Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Auxiliary article compartments
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-13
2001-12-11
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Auxiliary article compartments
C296S037200, C293S028000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328366
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to compartment formed underneath a vehicle body for storing items.
Pick-up trucks and sport utility vehicles typically have a rear truck bed for transporting large items. While some pick-up truck beds are enclosed with a cap or snap-on cover, many truck beds are left open so that larger items such as furniture, landscaping equipment, ladders, or other tools and accessories can be easily transported. A spare tire for the truck and the associated lift-jack and tools are usually mounted to one side of the truck bed, or are bolted underneath the truck bed. This exposes the spare tire to the external environment where the spare tire can be damaged. Additionally, locating the spare tire underneath the truck bed makes access difficult, especially in unfavorable weather conditions.
Further, storage of the spare tire and associated tools in or under an open truckbed usually does not provide safekeeping of such items. Sometimes, a bed-liner with a storage lock box is mounted within the truck bed to store tools and other accessories in the truck for an extended period of time. One disadvantage with the lock boxes is that they decrease the available cargo space. Another disadvantage with these storage lock boxes is that they are typically positioned across the back of the truck bed near the passenger compartment. This makes access difficult, requiring the vehicle operator to climb into the truck bed to remove items from the box.
Thus, it is desirable to have a compartment formed underneath the vehicle body, which can store items such as a spare tire and tools without decreasing cargo space in the truck bed. Such a compartment should also be easily accessible and capable of storing multiple items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention a vehicle body includes a substantially planar floor body member extending in a longitudinal direction and which is mounted to a vehicle frame or chassis member. A storage compartment with a support surface extending underneath the body member is used to store tools or other accessories. The support surface is movable relative to the body member between an open position to allow access to the tools and a closed position to store the tools within the storage compartment.
In a preferred embodiment, the compartment is defined by a bottom portion, a back portion, a top portion, and a pair of side portions that are integrally formed to each other as one piece. Thus, the vehicle has a storage compartment slidably mounted underneath a vehicle body that can be closed to protect items from the external environment.
In another embodiment, a support is spaced apart from and extending underneath the body member for supporting tools and other items. The support is pivotally mounted with respect to the body member at one end. This allows an opposing end of the support to pivot between a raised position where the support is parallel to the body member and a lowered position where the support is orientated at an angle relative to the body member. In a preferred embodiment, the support includes a secondary support member received within the support in a telescoping relationship. The secondary support member is movable between an extended position and a stowed position.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
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Arquevaux Laurent
Foster Steven
Giangrande Holly
Grimm Rainer
Hopson Charlie
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Engle Patricia
Gordon Stephen T.
Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LLC
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