Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached to special purpose vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-01-09
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier attached to special purpose vehicle
C224S498000, C224S542000, C224S543000, C296S037600, C220S004290, C220S007000, C220S811000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170724
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of accessories for trucks. More specifically, the present invention relates to an enclosure for use with pickup trucks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Because of their huge cargo capacity, pickup trucks are popular vehicles. However, they present some drawbacks for individual, day to day use. A particular problem stems for the lack of enclosed storage space.
Presently, there is a lack of secure storage in a pickup truck. Any object may be lifted out of the bed when unattended. Even in the cab, there is no place to hide valuables from view unless they are small enough to store in the glove box. This provides a tempting target for thieves to break into the truck. Examples of cargo that is at risk include golf clubs, power tools, etc.
One method of addressing this problem is trunk boxes that mount to the side rails of the vehicle next to the cab. However, these boxes are very difficult to access particularly for smaller people. Moreover, after gaining access to such a trunk box, it is common to take the items to the tailgate to perform work with them. In addition, these boxes are generally permanently mounted, thus shrinking the useable truck bed area.
Therefore, there is a need for a secure enclosure that is convenient to access and does not permanently occupy truck bed space.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a secure enclosure for use with a pickup truck.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an enclosure that is easily accessed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an enclosure that may be collapsed for easy storage when not in use.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an enclosure that is securely mounted in the bed of a pickup truck.
These and other objects of the present invention are provided by a collapsible storage device for use in a pickup truck bed including a rear panel; a lower panel hingeably mounted to a lower edge of the rear panel at a first edge; a first side panel hingeably mounted to a first side edge of the rear panel at a first edge; a second side panel hingeably mounted to a first side edge of the rear panel at a first edge; a first compression mounting mounted to the face of the first side panel such that the first compression mounting is compressed between the first side panel and a first sidewall of the pickup truck bed when the first side panel is in an open position; a second compression mounting mounted to the face of the second side panel such that the second compression mounting is compressed between the second side panel and a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall of the pickup truck bed when the second side panel is in an open position; a top panel hingeably mounted to a top edge of the rear panel at a first edge, the top panel resting on a top edge of the first and second side panels when the first and second side panels are in an open position, wherein the storage device provides an enclosed compartment when the first and second panels are in the open position and the storage device is positioned in the pickup truck bed such that a second edge opposite the first edge of each of the top, lower, first side and second side panels is positioned adjacent to a tailgate of the pickup truck bed when the tailgate is in the closed position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4215896 (1980-08-01), Drouin
patent: 5669537 (1997-09-01), Saleem et al.
patent: 5671857 (1997-09-01), Stromberg
patent: 5853116 (1998-12-01), Schreiner
patent: 5964492 (1999-10-01), Lyon
patent: 6056177 (2000-05-01), Schneider
patent: 6065794 (2000-05-01), Schlachter
patent: 6098827 (2000-08-01), Overbolt et al.
Carter Robert B.
Garris Eric
Menke Kurt
Cronin Stephen K.
Judson David H.
Markets Direct, Inc.
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