U.S. patent application number 15/666450 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-16 for collapsible folding truck trunk.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nicholas J. Singer. Invention is credited to Nicholas J. Singer.
Application Number | 20170327052 15/666450 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60294560 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170327052 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Singer; Nicholas J. |
November 16, 2017 |
COLLAPSIBLE FOLDING TRUCK TRUNK
Abstract
A collapsible trunk for use with a vehicle having a wheel well.
The trunk comprises a base wall and a side wall pivotally connected
thereto. The side wall extends from the base wall and terminates at
an upper edge. The side wall and base wall collectively define a
storage cavity. The base wall and the side wall each have an
expandable portion conformable to the wheel well in response to
placement of the base wall and the side wall over the wheel well.
The trunk is selectively transitional between a collapsed
configuration and a deployed configuration. In the collapsed
configuration, the base panels overlap each other, and in the
deployed configuration, the plurality of base panels are co-planar
to each other. The upper edge of the side wall moves away from the
base wall as the trunk transitions from the collapsed configuration
toward the deployed configuration.
Inventors: |
Singer; Nicholas J.;
(Irvine, CA) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Singer; Nicholas J. |
Irvine |
CA |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
60294560 |
Appl. No.: |
15/666450 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15397916 |
Jan 4, 2017 |
9751469 |
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15666450 |
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15177270 |
Jun 8, 2016 |
9573530 |
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15397916 |
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15046203 |
Feb 17, 2016 |
9566915 |
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15177270 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 33/0273 20130101;
B60P 7/14 20130101; B60J 7/1621 20130101; B62D 33/023 20130101;
B60P 3/42 20130101; B60R 9/06 20130101; B60R 11/06 20130101; B60R
9/065 20130101; B60P 1/6427 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 9/06 20060101
B60R009/06; B60R 11/06 20060101 B60R011/06; B60P 3/42 20060101
B60P003/42; B60P 1/64 20060101 B60P001/64; B62D 33/023 20060101
B62D033/023; B60J 7/16 20060101 B60J007/16 |
Claims
1. A collapsible folding truck trunk for use with a vehicle
including a storage area having a wheel well extending into the
storage area, the collapsible folding truck trunk comprising: a
base wall comprised of a plurality of base panels pivotally
connected to each other; and a side wall pivotally connected to the
base wall and extending from the base wall and terminating at an
upper edge, the side wall and base wall collectively defining a
storage cavity; at least one of the base wall and the side wall
having an expandable portion conformable to the wheel well in
response to placement of the base wall and the side wall over the
wheel well; the collapsible folding truck trunk being selectively
transitional between a collapsed configuration and a deployed
configuration, in the collapsed configuration, the plurality of
base panels overlapping each other, in the deployed configuration,
the plurality of base panels being co-planar to each other, the
upper edge of the side wall moving away from the base wall as the
collapsible folding truck trunk transitions from the collapsed
configuration toward the deployed configuration.
2. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 1, wherein the
expandable portion is comprised of an elastic sheet.
3. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 1, wherein each of
the plurality of base panels is of a quadrangular
configuration.
4. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 1, wherein the side
wall is comprised of plurality of side wall panels.
5. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 1, wherein the side
wall extends around the base wall.
6. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 5, wherein the side
wall includes a cutout formed therein, the cutout extending from
the upper edge and toward the base wall.
7. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 1, further
comprising a divider selectively engageable with the base wall to
divide the storage cavity into two discrete regions.
8. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 7, further
comprising a hook and loop fastener coupled to the divider and the
base wall for facilitating selective engagement between the divider
and the base wall.
9. The collapsible folding truck trunk recited in claim 1, further
comprising a cover engageable with the side wall to extend over the
storage cavity.
10. The collapsible folding truck trunk recited in claim 9, wherein
the cover is engageable with the side wall via at least one of a
zipper and hook and loop fasteners.
11. A collapsible folding truck trunk for use in a truck bed having
a wheel well and a rear end, the collapsible folding truck trunk
comprising: a base wall comprised of a plurality of base panels
pivotally connected to each other; and a side wall pivotally
connected to the base wall and extending from the base wall and
terminating at an upper edge, the side wall and base wall
collectively defining a storage cavity; the collapsible folding
truck trunk being selectively transitional between a collapsed
configuration and a deployed configuration, in the collapsed
configuration, the plurality of base panels overlapping each other,
in the deployed configuration, the plurality of base panels being
co-planar to each other, the upper edge of the side wall moving
away from the base wall as the collapsible folding truck trunk
transitions from the collapsed configuration toward the deployed
configuration; the collapsible folding truck trunk being sized and
structured to be placeable between the wheel well and the rear end
of the truck bed when the collapsible folding truck trunk is in the
deployed configuration.
12. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 11, wherein each
of the plurality of base panels is of a quadrangular
configuration.
13. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 11, wherein the
side wall is comprised of plurality of side wall panels.
14. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 11, wherein the
side wall extends around the base wall.
15. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 14, wherein the
side wall includes a cutout formed therein, the cutout extending
from the upper edge and toward the base wall.
16. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 11, further
comprising a divider selectively engageable with the base wall to
divide the storage cavity into two discrete regions.
17. The collapsible folding truck trunk of claim 16, further
comprising a hook and loop fastener coupled to the divider and the
base wall for facilitating selective engagement between the divider
and the base wall.
18. The collapsible folding truck trunk recited in claim 11,
further comprising a cover engageable with the side wall to extend
over the storage cavity.
19. The collapsible folding truck trunk recited in claim 18,
wherein the cover is engageable with the side wall via at least one
of a zipper and hook and loop fasteners.
20. A method of deploying a trunk in a vehicle having a wheel well,
the method comprising: placing the trunk adjacent the wheel well,
the trunk comprising: a base wall comprised of a plurality of base
panels pivotally connected to each other; and a side wall pivotally
connected to the base wall and extending from the base wall and
terminating at an upper edge, the side wall and base wall
collectively defining a storage cavity; at least one of the base
wall and the side wall having an expandable portion; the
collapsible folding truck trunk being selectively transitional
between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, in
the collapsed configuration, the plurality of base panels
overlapping each other, in the deployed configuration, the
plurality of base panels being co-planar to each other, the upper
edge of the side wall moving away from the base wall as the
collapsible folding truck trunk transitions from the collapsed
configuration toward the deployed configuration; conforming the
expandable portion to the wheel well in response to placement of
the trunk adjacent the wheel well.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part patent
application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/397,916,
filed on Jan. 4, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/177,270 filed on Jun. 8, 2016, now U.S.
Pat. No. 9,573,530, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/046,203 filed on Feb. 17, 2016, now U.S.
Pat. No. 9,566,915 which relates to the U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/656,476, filed on Mar. 12, 2015, and now U.S. Pat. No.
9,079,548, the entire contents of all the foregoing being expressly
incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
[0003] The various embodiments and aspects described herein relate
to a trunk for a bed of a truck.
[0004] Trucks are typically used to haul material in its bed area
from one location to another. However, truck beds have become
accessorized so that the truck bed can be used for a variety of
uses and more than merely hauling material. By way of example and
not limitation, truck beds can be retrofitted with toolboxes,
tonneau covers, shells and other accessories that bring additional
functionality to truck beds. Unfortunately, these solutions are
fixed in that once installed, the user typically does not remove
these accessories. Also, if the user needed to remove these
accessories from the truck bed, an extended period of time and
great strength would be required in order to reconfigure the truck
bed between different accessories.
[0005] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved
accessory for bringing additional functionality to a truck bed.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] A trunk for a bed of a truck is disclosed herein. The trunk
may have various configurations including but not limited to a
first embodiment wherein the trunk is traversable between front and
back positions, a second embodiment wherein the trunk is
telescoping in addition to being traversable between the front and
back positions and a third embodiment wherein the trunk is
collapsible in addition to being traversable between the front and
back positions. The trunk may provide an isolated enclosed area so
that a user may place objects in the trunk, isolated from soiled
surfaces of the truck bed. The trunk may also be traversed between
front and back positions by someone without great strength and also
configured so that the user may use the full length of the bed of
the truck.
[0007] A fourth embodiment involves the trunk that is used in
combination with a tonneau cover. The trunk of the fourth
embodiment may be traversed between front and back positions as
well as have partitions that may be repositioned to enlarge or
reduce the size of a trunk space of the fourth embodiment of the
trunk.
[0008] More particularly, a trunk for a bed of a truck is
disclosed. The trunk may comprise an enclosure, left and right
rails and a back cover. The enclosure may have a top traversable
between a lowered closed position and a raised opened position. The
left and right rails may be attached to left and right sidewalls of
the truck bed and operative to secure the enclosure at a first
position wherein a tailgate of the truck bed forms a back wall of
the enclosure when the tailgate is in an up position and a second
position adjacent to a front wall of the truck bed. The back cover
may be attached to a back side of the enclosure when the enclosure
is traversed to the second position to form the back wall of the
enclosure.
[0009] The trunk may further comprise support arms that may be
pivotally attached to the left and right sidewalls of the enclosure
and the top cover for holding the top cover in the raised open
position. The support arms may be pivotally attached to the left
and right rails or the left and right sidewalls of the
enclosure.
[0010] The enclosure may have a front wall attached to the left and
right sidewalls and a bottom wall attached to the front wall and
the left and right sidewalls. The back cover may be attached to an
underside of the top cover when the enclosure is traversed to the
first position and attached to the left and right sidewalls and
bottom wall when the enclosure is traversed to the second
position.
[0011] The back cover may form the back wall. The front wall and
the left and right sidewalls may have a stepped configuration to
accommodate wheel wells of the truck bed so that the enclosure is
traversable between the first and second positions by sliding the
enclosure horizontally between the first and second positions.
[0012] The front wall may be pivoted with respect to the top cover.
The bottom wall may be pivoted to the front wall. The front and
bottom walls may be pivoted to a position under the top cover and
parallel thereto for traversing the enclosure between the first and
second positions.
[0013] The left and right sidewalls and the front wall may have
upper and lower halves that telescope with respect to each other
between an up position and a down position. The enclosure may slide
horizontally between the first and second positions on the truck
bed when the lower half is in the up position.
[0014] A vertical height of the back cover may be about equal to a
vertical height of the left and right sidewalls when the left and
right sidewalls are in the up position.
[0015] The left and right rails may have a first part of a
male/female connection extending along a length of the rails. The
left and right sidewalls of the enclosure may have a second part of
the male/female connection wherein the second part slides against
the first part as the enclosure is traversed between the first and
second positions. The male/female connection may have a detent
mechanism to maintain the enclosure in the first or second
positions.
[0016] The trunk may further comprise a locking mechanism that
traverses left and right bars under the left and right rails to
prevent the top cover from inadvertently traversing to the raised
open position.
[0017] The trunk may further comprise a protective liner. The
protective liner may have a plurality of reliefs on a front wall
and left and right sidewalls of the protective liner to allow a
user to compress the protective liner during insertion or removal
of the protective liner from within the enclosure.
[0018] In another aspect, a storage compartment for a bed of a
truck configurable into two or more positions for providing a
versatile storage solution is disclosed. The system may comprise a
left rail, a right rail, a top cover and a plurality of panels. The
left rail may be secured to a left sidewall of the truck bed. The
right rail may be secured to a right sidewall of the truck bed. The
top cover may be pivotally attached to the left and right rails at
either a first position or a second position. The first position
may be closer to a tailgate of the truck bed compared to the second
position. The plurality of panels may be deployed so as to define a
storage volume with either the tailgate when the top cover is in
the first position or with a back wall when the top cover is in the
second position and the sidewalls of the truck bed.
[0019] The top cover may have a latching mechanism traversable
between a locked position and an opened position. In the locked
position, locking bars extend laterally outward so that opposed
distal end portions of the latching mechanism are disposed under
lips of the left and right sidewalls of the truck bed or the left
and right rails.
[0020] In a different aspect, a method of reconfiguring a trunk
attached to a bed of a truck is disclosed. The method may comprise
the steps of unlocking the trunk so that the trunk is operative to
be horizontally slid to first or second positions, a tailgate of
the truck bed forming a part of an enclosed space of the trunk when
the trunk is in the first position, the trunk being closer to a cab
of the truck when the trunk is in the second position; sliding the
trunk to the second position; attaching a back wall of the trunk to
form the enclosed space; locking the trunk to the second position;
and pivoting a cover of the trunk to an up position so that a full
length of the truck bed is available for use.
[0021] The method may further comprise a step of collapsing upper
and lower telescoping sections of the trunk. The collapsing step
may include the step of lifting the lower section into the upper
section.
[0022] The method may further comprise a step of pivoting a bottom
wall and a front wall upon each other under a cover of the
trunk.
[0023] The sliding step may include a step of traversing a tongue
of the trunk within elongate grooves of rails attached to left and
right sidewalls of the bed of the truck.
[0024] In another aspect, a truck with a truck bed convertible into
a trunk is disclosed. The truck may comprise the truck bed, a
tonneau cover, a driver side rail, a passenger side rail and a
trunk. The truck bed may define a front wall, a passenger side
sidewall, a driver side sidewall and a tailgate pivotable between
an opened position and a closed position. The tonneau cover may be
pivoted and attached to a forward portion of the truck bed closer
to the front wall than the tailgate. The tonneau cover may be
pivoted between an opened up position and a closed down position.
The driver side rail may be attached to and extend horizontally
along the driver side sidewall. The passenger side rail may be
attached to and extend horizontally along the passenger side
sidewall. The trunk may extend across a width of the truck bed and
be slidably attached to the driver side and passenger side rails so
that the trunk is slidable along a length of the bed and securable
in at least two different positions.
[0025] The trunk may define an upper edge that is vertically higher
than a lower edge of the tonneau cover so that rain cascades down
the tonneau cover and over the trunk. Alternatively, the trunk may
define an upper edge below a lower edge of the tonneau cover.
[0026] The trunk may have stepped side walls to accommodate wheel
wells protruding into the truck bed. The trunk may have a rear wall
with an opening and a selectively positionable panel. The trunk may
have first and second sets of slots. The first set of slots may be
formed in between the front wall of the trunk and the rear wall.
The second set of slots may be formed near the rear wall to close
the opening of the rear wall. The trunk may be fabricated from a
rigid or resilient material.
[0027] The tonneau cover may extend from the front wall to the
tailgate to cover the entire truck bed.
[0028] The driver side rail and the passenger side rail may be
attached to interior sides of the driver side sidewall and the
passenger side sidewall.
[0029] Opposed sides of the trunk may be received into the driver
side and passenger side rails so that the trunk may be traversed
horizontally within the truck bed.
[0030] According to yet another aspect, there is provided a
collapsible folding truck trunk for use with a vehicle including a
storage area having a wheel well extending into the storage area is
disclosed. The collapsible folding truck trunk comprises a base
wall including a plurality of base panels pivotally connected to
each other, and a side wall pivotally connected to the base wall.
The side wall extends from the base wall and terminates at an upper
edge. The side wall and base wall collectively define a storage
cavity. The base wall and the side wall each have an expandable
portion conformable to the wheel well in response to placement of
the base wall and the side wall over the wheel well. The
collapsible folding truck trunk is selectively transitional between
a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the
collapsed configuration, the plurality of base panels overlap each
other, and in the deployed configuration, the plurality of base
panels are co-planar to each other. The upper edge of the side wall
moves away from the base wall as the collapsible folding truck
trunk transitions from the collapsed configuration toward the
deployed configuration.
[0031] The expandable portion of the base wall and the side wall
may be comprised of an elastic sheet.
[0032] Each of the plurality of base panels may be of a
quadrangular configuration.
[0033] The side wall may be comprised of plurality of side wall
panels. The side wall may extend around the base wall. The side
wall may include a cutout formed therein, with the cutout extending
from the upper edge and toward the base wall.
[0034] The collapsible folding truck trunk may additionally include
a divider selectively engageable with the base wall to divide the
storage cavity into two discrete regions. The collapsible folding
truck trunk may further comprise a hook and loop fastener coupled
to the divider and the base wall for facilitating selective
engagement between the divider and the base wall.
[0035] The collapsible folding truck trunk may include a cover
engageable with the side wall to extend over the storage cavity.
The cover may be engageable with the side wall via a zipper.
[0036] In still a further embodiment, there is provided a
collapsible folding truck trunk for use in a truck bed having a
wheel well and a rear end. The collapsible folding truck trunk
includes a base wall comprised of a plurality of base panels
pivotally connected to each other, and a side wall pivotally
connected to the base wall. The side wall extends from the base
wall and terminates at an upper edge, with the side wall and base
wall collectively defining a storage cavity. The collapsible
folding truck trunk is selectively transitional between a collapsed
configuration and a deployed configuration. In the collapsed
configuration, the plurality of base panels overlap each other, and
in the deployed configuration, the plurality of base panels are
co-planar to each other. The upper edge of the side wall moves away
from the base wall as the collapsible folding truck trunk
transitions from the collapsed configuration toward the deployed
configuration. The collapsible folding truck trunk is sized and
structured to be placeable between the wheel well and the rear end
of the truck bed when the collapsible folding truck trunk is in the
deployed configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] These and other features and advantages of the various
embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect
to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers
refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the trunk traversed
to a back position;
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates the trunk with a lid and tailgate in an
open position;
[0040] FIG. 2A illustrates an exploded view of the trunk shown in
FIG. 2;
[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates the trunk traversed to a front position
with the lid in the open position;
[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates the trunk shown in FIG. 3 with a back
panel forming an enclosed space;
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates the trunk shown in FIG. 4 with the lid in
a closed position;
[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the trunk
traversed to a back position;
[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates the trunk with the lid and the tailgate
in the open position;
[0046] FIG. 7A illustrates an exploded view of the trunk shown in
FIG. 7;
[0047] FIG. 8 illustrates the trunk in a collapsed position;
[0048] FIG. 9 illustrates the trunk shown in FIG. 8 traversed to a
front position;
[0049] FIG. 10 illustrates the trunk shown in FIG. 9 with a back
panel mounted thereto to form the enclosed space;
[0050] FIG. 11 illustrates the trunk with the lid in a closed
position;
[0051] FIG. 12 is a third embodiment of the trunk traversed to a
back position;
[0052] FIG. 13 illustrates the trunk with the lid and the tailgate
in the open position;
[0053] FIG. 13A illustrates an exploded view of the trunk shown in
FIG. 13;
[0054] FIG. 14 illustrates a bottom panel being folded upward to
traverse the trunk in an undeployed state;
[0055] FIG. 15 illustrates the trunk with a front panel being
folded upward to traverse the trunk in the undeployed state;
[0056] FIG. 16 illustrates the trunk being traversed to the front
position;
[0057] FIG. 17 illustrates the trunk with the front panel being
unfolded to traverse the trunk in the deployed state;
[0058] FIG. 18 illustrates the trunk with the bottom panel being
unfolded to traverse the trunk in the deployed state;
[0059] FIG. 19 illustrates a back panel being mounted to the trunk
to form the enclosed space;
[0060] FIG. 20 illustrates the trunk with the lid in the closed
position;
[0061] FIG. 21 illustrates the trunk in the undeployed state
mounted to a roof of a cab of a truck;
[0062] FIG. 22 illustrates the trunk shown in FIG. 21 with the lid
in an up position;
[0063] FIG. 23A illustrates a locking mechanism of the lid;
[0064] FIG. 23B illustrates the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 23A
incorporated into the trunk and bed of the truck;
[0065] FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the third
embodiment of the trunk and the trunk liner;
[0066] FIG. 25 illustrates the trunk liner inserted into the trunk
shown in FIG. 24;
[0067] FIG. 26 illustrates the trunk liner being folded along with
the trunk;
[0068] FIG. 27 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the trunk in
combination with a tonneau cover;
[0069] FIG. 28 illustrates the trunk shown in FIG. 27 with the
tonneau cover in a raised position and a partition disposed against
the front wall of a trunk;
[0070] FIG. 29 illustrates the trunk shown in FIG. 28 with the
partition disposed in a middle of the trunk;
[0071] FIG. 30 illustrates the trunk traversed to a back position
with the partition removed from the trunk;
[0072] FIG. 31 illustrates the trunk in the back position with the
partition installed at a rear position of the trunk;
[0073] FIG. 32 is an enlarged view of the trunk and the tonneau
cover;
[0074] FIG. 33 is an upper perspective view of a pickup truck
having a truck bed, with a cover extending over the truck bed;
[0075] FIG. 34 is an upper perspective view of the pickup truck of
FIG. 33, with the cover being removed from the truck bed to expose
a collapsible folding truck trunk stored in the truck bed adjacent
a cab of the pickup truck;
[0076] FIG. 35 is an upper perspective view of the pickup truck and
collapsible folding truck trunk of FIG. 34, with the collapsible
folding truck trunk being moved away from the cab to facilitate
unfolding of the collapsible folding truck trunk;
[0077] FIG. 36 is an upper perspective view of the pickup truck and
collapsible folding truck trunk, with the collapsible folding truck
trunk being an a partially deployed configuration;
[0078] FIG. 37 is an upper perspective view of the pickup truck and
collapsible folding truck trunk, with the collapsible folding truck
trunk including a primary unit completely unfolded, and a dividing
wall exploded from the primary unit;
[0079] FIG. 38 is an upper perspective view of the pickup truck and
collapsible folding truck trunk, with the primary unit being placed
over a wheel well;
[0080] FIG. 39 is an upper perspective view of the pickup truck and
another embodiment of the collapsible folding truck trunk sized to
fit between the wheel well and a rear end of the truck bed; and
[0081] FIG. 40 is an upper perspective view of the pickup truck and
the collapsible folding truck trunk in a collapsed configuration
and stored in the cab of the pickup truck.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0082] Referring now to the drawings, a trunk 10, 12, 14, 300, 436,
536 for a bed 16 of the truck 18 is shown in FIGS. 2A, 7A 13A, 28,
38, and 39. The trunk 10, 12, 14, 300, 436, 536 provides an
isolated space within the bed 16 of the truck 18 in that various
panels of the trunk 10, 12, 14, 300, 436, 536 provide a barrier
from surfaces of the bed 16 of the truck 18 so that objects (e.g.,
groceries) may be placed in the trunk 10, 12, 14, 300, 436, 536 and
protected from dirt on the surfaces of the bed 16 of the truck 18.
The trunk 10, 12, 14 may be positioned in a back position, as shown
in FIGS. 1, 6, 12 and 31. Alternatively, the trunk 10, 12, 14 may
also be horizontally traversed to a front position as shown in
FIGS. 5, 11, 20 and 28. The trunk 10, 12, 14, 300 may be easily
traversed between the front and back positions so that great
strength is not required to reconfigure the position of the trunk
10, 12, 14, 300 within the truck bed 16. Weaker people may
reconfigure the trunk 10, 12, 14, 300 between the front and back
positions without assistance or help from another person.
Additionally, in both the front and back positions, the trunk 10,
12, 14, 300 may provide an enclosed space that may be locked to
provide security for items placed within the enclosed space.
Additionally, in FIGS. 27-32, the trunk 300 may comprise a tonneau
cover 302 and a trunk 304.
[0083] Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-6, the trunk 10
may be horizontally slidable and mounted to the left and right
rails 20, 22 (see FIG. 2A) that are attached to upper lips 24, 26
of left and right side walls 28, 30. The trunk 10 may be traversed
to the back position so that groceries 32 and other items may be
easily placed in the trunk 10 (see FIG. 2) and retrieved therefrom.
To open the trunk 10, the user may lift up a lid 34 of the trunk 10
and/or pull down a tailgate 36 of the truck bed 16. The trunk 10
may also be easily traversed to the front position by sliding the
trunk 10 in a horizontal direction 40 (see FIG. 3) toward the cab
38 of the truck 18. When the trunk 10 is in the front position,
panel 42 may be removed from an underside of the lid 34 and fixed
in place in order to form the enclosed space of the trunk 10 as
shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the back panel
42 may remain secured under the lid 34 and the lid 34 flipped up so
that a motorcycle 88 may be loaded onto the bed 16 of the truck 18
thereby utilizing a full length of the truck bed 16.
[0084] The trunk 10 may include a front panel 44, a bottom panel
46, left and right sections 48, 50, the lid 34 and the back panel
42 as shown in FIG. 2. The bottom panel 46 may be rigidly fixed to
the front panel 44. The left and right sections 48, 50 may be
identical but mirror images of each other and have a step 52, 54
that accommodates the left and right wheel wells 56, 58 of the
truck bed 16 so that the trunk 10 may be easily traversed between
the front and back positions without having to vertically lift the
trunk 10 over the wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16. The
bottom panel 46 may be disposed close to but not in contact with a
floor 60 (see FIG. 2A) of the truck bed 16 so that the trunk 10 may
easily slide in the horizontal direction. The left and right
sections 48, 50 have steps 52, 54. The steps 52, 54 are positioned
above the highest point 62 of the wheel wells 56, 58. The highest
point of the wheel well 58 is not shown but is identical to the
highest point 62 of the wheel well 56.
[0085] The trunk 10 may be horizontally slidable and mounted to the
left and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. In
particular, left and right rails 20, 22 of the trunk 10 may be
fixedly secured to the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side
walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. In order to secure the left and
right rails 20, 22 to the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right
side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16, the left and right rails 20,
22 may be bolted to the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right
side walls 28, 30. Alternatively, the left and right rails 20, 22
may have enlarged nubs 64 that fit within the keyhole shaped slot
66 formed in the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls
28, 30. The left and right sections 48, 50 may have tongues 68, 70
that fit within the grooves 72, 74 of the left and right rails 20,
22. Preferably, the tongues 68, 70 and the grooves 72, 74 may have
a wedge-shaped configuration that slideably mates with each other.
Moreover, the grooves 72, 74 may optionally have ball bearings that
help to support the trunk 10 and to allow convenient and easy
horizontal traversal of the trunk 10 between the back and front
positions on the rails 20, 22.
[0086] The left and right sections 48, 50 may have a
cross-sectional configuration that conforms to a cross-sectional
inner profile of the left and right side walls 28, 30 including its
wheel wells. In this regard, the left and right sections 48, 50 may
be close to but do not contact the left and right side walls 28, 30
and the wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16 to allow for
horizontal traversal of the trunk 10 between the front and back
positions without vertical lifting or traversal of the trunk
10.
[0087] The trunk 10 may be secured in the front or back positions
by way of a set screw 76. When the trunk 10 is in the back
position, the set screws 76 are engaged in the holes 78. The set
screws 76 push down and frictionally engage the tongues 68, 70 to
prevent movement of the trunk 10. When the trunk 10 is in the front
position, the set screws 76 are engaged in the holes 80. The set
screws 76 push down and frictionally engage the tongues 68, 70 of
the trunk 10 to prevent horizontal movement of the trunk 10.
Alternatively or additionally, a detent may be incorporated into
the trunk 10 and rails 20, 22. The detent may be operative to lock
the trunk 10 in either the back position or the front position.
[0088] To install the trunk 10 to the truck bed 16, the left and
right rails 20, 22 are attached to the left and right side walls
28, 30 of the truck bed 16. As discussed above, there are at least
two methods of attaching or fixedly securing the left and right
rails 20, 22 to the side walls 28, 30. In particular, the keyhole
shaped slot 66 may be formed in the upper lips 24, 26 of the truck
bed 16. These keyhole shaped slots receive nubs 64 of the left and
right rails 20, 22. The nubs 64 are inserted into the keyhole
shaped slot and secured thereto in order to fix the left and right
rails 20, 26. Alternatively, the left and right rails 20, 22 may be
bolted to the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls
28, 30. The left and right rails 20, 22 have grooves 72, 74. These
grooves 72, 74 are directed inwardly toward the center of the bed
16 of the truck. These grooves 72, 74 may run the entire length or
a substantial portion of the length of the truck bed 16 so that the
trunk 10 may be traversed horizontally between the front and back
positions without having to lift the trunk 10 vertically. As shown
and described, the grooves 72, 74 formed on the left and right
rails 20, 22 which receive the tongues 68, 70 of the trunk 10.
However, the opposite situation is contemplated in that the grooves
72, 74 may be formed on the trunk 10 which receives tongues 68, 70
formed in the rails 20, 22 along the length of the rails 20,
22.
[0089] Before tightening the left and right rails 20, 22 to the
upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls 28, 30, the left
and right rails 20, 22 may be slightly loose so as to be capable of
rattling. In this state, the tongues 68, 70 of the trunk 10 may be
inserted into the respective grooves 72, 74 of the left and right
rails 20, 22. With the tongues 68, 70 disposed within the grooves
72, 74, the left and right rails 20, 22 may now be adjusted and
tightened onto the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side
walls 28, 30.
[0090] The tongues 68, 70 are linearly traversable within the
grooves 72, 74 to allow the trunk 10 to be horizontally traversable
between the front and back positions. By being horizontally
traversable, a person that might not be that strong may easily move
the trunk 10 between the front and back positions depending on the
desired use or nonuse of the trunk 10. If the trunk 10 is in the
back position, the user may use the trunk 10 as a normal place to
carry his or her groceries. If the trunk 10 is in the front
position, then the user may use the trunk 10 similar to a toolbox.
Alternatively, the lid 34 of the trunk 10 may be disposed in the up
position so that the user may place a motorcycle 88 in the bed 16
of the truck as shown in FIG. 3.
[0091] The lid 34 of the trunk 10, 12, 14 is lockable in the down
position (see FIG. 1). Referring to FIG. 23A, B, the lid 34 may
have a mechanism 82 with arms 84 that may extend under the upper
lips 24, 26 of the left and right sidewalls 28, 30 to lock the lid
34 in the down position. In order to traverse the lid 34 to the up
position (see FIG. 2), the user turns a lock 86 in the
counterclockwise direction so that the arms 84 may clear the lips
24, 26 of the side walls 28, 30. The lid 34 may then be pivoted
upward to the up position and may be locked or supported in the up
position by shocks 134. The lid 34 is pivotable about an upper edge
of the front panel 44.
[0092] FIG. 1 illustrates a trunk 10 installed on the truck bed 16
with the trunk 10 in the back position. The trunk 10 is used to
isolate things such as grocery bags from the soiled surfaces of the
truck bed 16 so that things such as grocery bags do not become
soiled by the dirt on the surfaces of the truck bed. The trunk 10
may be opened in one of two ways, namely, by lifting up the lid 34
or pulling down the tailgate 36 of the truck bed 16. To move the
trunk 10 from the back position to the front position, the user
releases the trunk 10 either by loosening set screws 76 or
releasing detents. The trunk 10 is traversed forward in the
direction of arrow 40 and locked into place with set screws 76 or
detent. In the front position, the trunk 10 may be moved out of the
way by simply lifting the lid 34 as shown in FIG. 3. In this
manner, a motorcycle 88 may be loaded and transported in the bed 16
of the truck 18. Alternatively, the trunk 10 may form an enclosed
space by removing the back panel 42 and engaging the back panel 42
to the bottom panel 46 and the left and right sections 48, 50, as
shown in FIG. 4. To remove the back panel 42 from the lid 34,
straps 90 under the lid 34 with hooks and loops may be released.
The back panel 42 may be secured to the bottom panel 46 and the
left and right sections 48, 50 via means known in the art or
developed in the future. The lid 34 may extend beyond upper edges
of the front panel 44, back panel 42 and left and right sections
48, 50 so that rainwater does not enter the enclosed space of the
trunk 10. Moreover, other water sealing or water proofing methods
that are known in the art or developed in the future may be
incorporated into the trunk 10.
[0093] Referring now the FIGS. 6-11, a second embodiment of the
trunk 12 is shown. The trunk 12 is identical to the trunk 10 except
that the trunk 12 has upper and lower telescoping sections 100,
102. Additionally, the trunk 12 does not have steps in the left and
right sections as in the truck embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 to
allow for the wheel wells of the truck bed 16.
[0094] The trunk 12 may be disposed either in front of or behind
the wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16 since the left and right
sections 48a, 50a are not contoured to the corresponding shape of
the wheel wells 56, 58. Rather, the left and right sections 48a and
50a are vertically flat. The trunk 12 provides more room in the
width direction of the enclosed space since the left and right
sections 48, 50 do not have the steps 52, 54 as in trunk 10.
[0095] The trunk 12 is traversable between the front and back
positions as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11. The trunk 12 is traversed in
the horizontal direction when traversed between the front and back
positions so that a mother or a person that does not have great
strength may reconfigure the trunk 12 as needed either for storing
things such as groceries or reconfiguring the trunk 12 so that a
motorcycle may be loaded on the truck bed 16. In order to traverse
the trunk 12 between the front and back positions, the lower
section 102 must be collapsed into the upper section 100, as shown
in FIG. 8. By doing so, the lower section 102 clears the wheel
wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16 so that the trunk 12 may be
horizontally traversed to the front position, as shown in FIG. 9.
The same is also true when the trunk 12 is traversed from the front
position to the back position. The lower section 102 must be raised
and collapsed into the upper section 100 so that the lower section
102 clears the wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16 when
traversing the trunk 12 between the front and back positions.
[0096] The lid 34 may be larger than the upper section 100 and the
lower section 102 may be slightly smaller than the upper section
100. When water that falls on the lid 34 the water cascades onto
the upper section 100, and in turn cascades onto the lower section
102. In this manner, the trunk 12 does not collect water in the
enclosed space. Water also cascades off of the lid 34 and onto the
tailgate of the truck bed 16 since the lid 34 extends over the
tailgate as shown in FIG. 6. The oversized nature of the lid 34 is
also incorporated into the trunks 10, 14.
[0097] The upper and lower sections 100, 102 may be fabricated from
left and right panels 104, 106, 108, 110. The left and right panels
104, 106, 108, 110 are attached to front panel's 112, 114 of the
upper and lower section 100, 102. As discussed above, the lower
section 102 slides up and down within the upper section 100. The
lower section 102 may slide within the upper section 100 via
various means such as but not limited to rails, tongue and groove
connections, gear and pinion, etc. Moreover, the lower section 102
may be traversable between an up position wherein the lower section
102 is collapsed into the upper section 100 or down position
wherein the lower section 102 is extended away from the upper
section 100 to form an enlarged enclosed space.
[0098] The lower section 102 may be retained in the up or down
positions with a clamp or detent mechanism known in the art or
developed in the future.
[0099] Additionally, when the trunk 12 is disposed in the front
position as shown in FIG. 10, a back panel 42a may be removed from
the underside of the lid 34 by undoing straps 92a. The straps 92a
may be lined with hook and loop fasteners which are removed in
order to release the back panel 42a from the lid 34. The back panel
42a mounts onto the upper section 102 and/or the lower section 100
in order to form the enclosed space of the trunk 12. The back panel
42a is shown as being short in order to fit on the trunk 12 when
the lower section 102 is collapsed into the upper section 100.
However, it is also contemplated that the back panel 42a may be
taller so that the back panel 42a may fit onto the trunk 12 when
the lower section 102 is in the down position and the trunk 12 is
in the front position. When the back panel 42a is mounted to the
trunk 12, the back panel 42a may form the enclosed space within the
trunk 12. The back panel 42a may extend from the bottom panel to
the lid 34 when closed. The lower section 102 is shown as being in
the up position when the trunk 12 is in the front position.
However, it is also contemplated that the lower section 102 may be
in either the up or down positions when the trunk 12 is in the
front position.
[0100] When the trunk is in the back position as shown in FIGS. 7
and 8, the user has an option of either creating a larger enclosed
space by positioning the lower section 102 in the down position or
creating a smaller enclosed space by traversing the lower section
102 to the up position, as shown in FIG. 8. Likewise, when the
trunk 12 is in the front position as shown in FIG. 10, the user may
create a smaller enclosed space by traversing the lower section 102
to the up position and fitting the back panel 42a as shown in FIG.
10. Alternatively, the user may remove the back panel 42a and
secure it 42a to the underside of the lid 34 and draw the lower
section 102 to the down position. With the lid 34 pivoted upward as
shown in FIG. 10, the user may load a motorcycle onto the bed 16 of
the truck 18. Alternatively, the trunk 12 may be provided with two
different back panels 42a. These two different back panels 42a may
be a short back panel 42a wherein the short back panel 42a mounts
to the trunk 12 when the lower section 102 is disposed in the up
position. The larger of the two back panels 42a may be mounted to
the trunk 12 when the lower section 102 is disposed in the down
position. In this regard, the trunk 12 is capable of providing a
larger or smaller enclosed space.
[0101] Referring now to FIGS. 12-22, the trunk 14 is illustrated.
The trunk 14 is identical to trunk 10 except in the following
manner. The trunk 14 is traversable between front and back
positions as shown in FIGS. 12 and 20 when deployed. The trunk 14
also has various stowaway configurations shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and
20. In FIG. 15, the trunk 14 is being transitioned to an undeployed
state wherein the lid 34 is secured to the upper lips 24, 26 of the
left and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. Objects may
be slid under the undeployed trunk 12 that can fit through opening
130.
[0102] FIG. 16 illustrates the undeployed trunk 12 being traversed
to the front position. The trunk 12 may be locked to the front
position in the undeployed position so that objects may be placed
at the rear of the truck bed 16, if desired. Similarly, objects can
be slid under the undeployed trunk 12. Moreover, if desired, the
trunk 12 in its undeployed state may be mountable to a rooftop 132
of the cab 38 of the truck 18 so that the user may have full access
to the entire area of the truck bed 16.
[0103] More particularly, the trunk 14 may be pivotally secured to
the bed 16 in either the front or back positions, as shown in FIGS.
13 and 18 as well as on the roof 132 of the cab 38 shown in FIG.
22. The lid 34 may be held in the up position by way of shocks 134.
The shocks 134 have an extended position shown in FIGS. 13 and 18.
In the extended position, the shocks 134 lift the lid 34 upward a
sufficient distance so that a motorcycle may be disposed in the
trunk 14 or the truck bed 16. In a half extended position, as shown
in FIG. 22, the lid 34 functions as a spoiler. As such, the shocks
134 pivot the lid 34 upwards a bit along its front edge in order to
create downward pressure as the truck 18 moves forward. When the
trunk 14 is disposed at either the front or back positions, the
shocks 134 are pivotally secured to both the lid 34 and the upper
lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck
bed 16. When the lid 34 is pivoted downward, the shocks 134
collapse to allow for the pivoting motion of the lid 34.
[0104] The trunk 14 may have a front panel 150, bottom panel 152
and a back panel 154. The front panel 115 is pivotally attached to
a front of the lid 134 so that the front panel 150 may be folded
under the lid 34. Additionally, the bottom panel 152 is pivotally
attached to a lower edge of the front panel 150. Moreover, the
bottom panel 152 and the back front panel 150 may be folded under
the lid 34 and locked in position in order to have full access to
the truck bed 16 as described above. Additionally, the bottom panel
152 may additionally have left and right relief panels 156, 158
that accommodate the wheel wells 56, 58. When the trunk 14 is in
the back position, the relief panels 156, 158 are co-planer with a
bottom panel 152. However, when the trunk 14 is in the front
position, the relief panels 156, 158 may be pitched upward against
the wheel wells 56, 58, as shown in FIG. 18. In the back position,
the tailgate forms an enclosed space of the trunk 14. In the front
position, the back panel 154 may be removed from the underside of
the lid 34 by undoing the straps 92 and securing the back panel 154
to the bottom panel 152 in the left and right side walls 28,
30.
[0105] In all of the trunks 10, 12, 14 described herein, the lid 34
may have left and right grooves 94, 96. These grooves 94, 96
receive the upper lips 24, 26 of the left and right side walls 28,
30 so that water that drips on the lid 34 cascades off of the trunk
10, 12, 14 and onto the side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16.
Moreover, the back side of the trunk 10, 12, 14 may have a skirt 98
that overhangs the tailgate of the truck bed 16 so that water that
drips on the trunk 14 cascades over the lid 34 and onto the
tailgate in order to create a water resistant enclosed space within
the trunk 10, 12, 14.
[0106] The trunks 10, 12, 14 may all define a length 200 which is
less than a length 202 of the truck bed 16. The length 202 of the
truck bed 16 may be between about 70 inches to about 105 inches.
The length 200 of the trunk 10, 12, 14 may be about one half or
less of the length 202 of the truck bed 16. Preferably, the length
200 of the trunk 10, 12, 14 may be about 20 inches to about 35
inches.
[0107] The trunks 10, 12, 14 may be fabricated from various
materials including but not limited to carbon fiber, injection
molded plastic, metal, aluminum, steel and other materials known in
the art or developed in the future that is resistant to degradation
from UV rays and environmental pressures such as rain, wind and
dust.
[0108] The trunks 10, 12, 14 all define an enclosed space within
the various panels and the lid 34. It is also contemplated that the
enclosed space may be sealed from the environment with
weatherstripping, gasket and other sealants to prevent water from
entering the enclosed space when raining.
[0109] Referring now to FIGS. 24-26, a barrier 250 is shown. The
barrier 250 is shown as being used in conjunction with trunk 14.
However, the barrier 250 may also be used in conjunction with
trunks 10, 12. As shown in FIG. 25, the barrier 250 may be inserted
into the enclosed space defined by the trunk 14. The barrier 250
may have left and right side walls 252, 254 and front wall 256 as
well as bottom floor 258. The barrier 250 may be fabricated from an
elastomeric material to allow the barrier 250 to collapse or be
folded as shown in FIG. 26 which illustrates the trunk 14 being
traversed to the undeployed state. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the
left and right side walls 252, 254 may have a diagonal crease 260.
When the bottom panel 152 is pivoted upward as shown in FIG. 26,
the left and right side walls 252, 254 bend at the diagonal crease
260 to allow the barrier 250 to fold into a flat configuration so
that the trunk 14 may be traversed to the undeployed state as shown
in FIGS. 16 and 21.
[0110] Referring now to FIGS. 27-32, the trunk 300 is shown as
being horizontally traversable and mountable to left and right
rails 320, 322 (see FIG. 28) that are attached to interior surfaces
306, 308 of the left and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed.
The trunk 300 comprises the tonneau cover 302 and the trunk 304. To
reconfigure the trunk 300, the user may traverse the trunk 304 to
the front position shown in FIG. 28 or to the back position shown
in FIGS. 30 and 31. To do so, the trunk 304 rides on the left and
right rails 320, 322. The trunk 304 may have left and right male
members that engage the left and right rails 320, 322. In FIG. 32,
only the passenger side male member 324 is shown to mates with the
left rail 320. However, the driver side also has a driver side male
member that slideably mates with the right rail 322. To access the
trunk 304, the user may lift the tonneau cover 302 to the up
position shown in FIG. 28. To close the trunk, the user closes the
tonneau cover 302 as shown in FIG. 27. In either of the front and
back positions, a partition 310 may be placed against a front wall
312 of the trunk 304 as shown in FIG. 28. The front wall 312 is
covered by the partition 310 and cannot be seen in FIG. 28 but is
visible in FIGS. 29, 30 and 31. The partition 310 may also be
placed in the middle of the trunk 304 (see FIG. 29) as well as at a
back side of the trunk 304 as shown in FIG. 31.
[0111] The partition 310 may be secured to the front middle or back
side of the trunk 304 by way of grooves 314 formed by feet 316
wherein the groove 314 is defined by the feet 316. The feet 316 may
be placed at various positions along the panels of the trunk 304.
The feet 316 may be placed on both the left and right sides of the
trunk 304 so that the grooves 314 formed by the feet 316 can
support the left and right sides of the partition 312. The
partition 312 may be inserted into the grooves 314 from the top
side of the feet. To reposition the partition 310, the user lifts
the partition 310 out of one set of grooves/feet 316 and drops the
partition 310 into another set of grooves/feet 316. By doing so,
the size of the enclosure defined by the trunk 304, partition 310
and the tonneau cover 302 is enlarged or reduced as desired by the
user. The partition 310 is held vertically in place at the front
and back of the trunk 304 with the aid of the feet 316 and the
front wall 312 or the back lip.
[0112] The left and right sections 348, 350 may be identical but
mirror images of each other and have a step 352, 354 that
accommodates the left and right wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed
so that the trunk 304 may be easily traversed between the front and
back positions without having to vertically lift the trunk 10 over
the wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed 16. The bottom panel 346
may be disposed close to but not in contact with a floor 60 of the
truck bed 16 so that the trunk may easily slide in the horizontal
direction. The steps 352, 354 may be positioned above the highest
point 62 of the wheel wells 56, 58. The highest point of the wheel
wells 58 is not shown but is identical to the highest point 62 (see
FIG. 2A) of the wheel well 56.
[0113] The trunk 304 may be horizontally slidable and mounted to
the left and right side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed. In
particular left and right rails 320, 322 may be fixedly secured to
interior surfaces 306, 308 of the left and right side walls 28, 30
of the truck bed 16. Preferably, the left and right side rails 320,
322 are positioned parallel and level with the floor 60 of the
truck bed. In order to secure the left and right rails 320, 322 to
the interior surfaces 304, 306 of the left and right side walls 28,
30 of the truck bed 16, the left and right rails 320, 322 may be
bolted to the interior surfaces 306, 308 of the left and right side
walls 28, 30. Alternatively, the left and right rails 320, 322 may
have enlarged nubs that fit within keyhole shaped slots formed in
the interior surfaces 306, 308 of the left and right side walls 28,
30. The left and right sections may have tongues 324 that fit
within the grooves 326 of the left and right rails 320, 322.
Preferably the tongues 324 and the grooves of the rails 320, 322
may have a wedge shaped configuration (see FIG. 32) that slidably
mates with each other. In order to dispose the tongues 324 into the
grooves 326 of the left and right rails 320, 322, the rails 320,
322 may be mounted to the left and right side walls of the truck
bed. With the tailgate open, the trunk 304 is inserted into the
truck bed from the rear of the truck bed so that tongues 324 can
slide into the grooves 326 of the left and right rails 320,
322.
[0114] Moreover, the grooves 326 may optionally have ball bearings
that help to support the trunk 304 and to allow convenient and easy
horizontal traversal of the trunk 304 between the back and front
positions on the rails 320, 322.
[0115] The left and right sections 348, 350 may have
cross-sectional configuration that conforms to a cross-sectional
inner profile of the left and right side walls 28, 30 including its
wheel wells 56, 58. In this regard, the left and right sections
348, 350 may be close to but not in contact with the left and right
side walls 28, 30 and the wheel wells 56, 58 of the truck bed to
allow for horizontal traversal of the trunk 304 between the front
and back positions without vertically lifting or traversal of the
trunk.
[0116] The trunk may be secured in the front and back positions by
way of a set screw.
[0117] When the trunk is in the back position the set screws are
engaged in the holes. The set screw is pushed down and frictionally
engages the tongues to prevent movement of the truck. When the
trunk is in the front position, the set screws are engaged in the
holes. The set screws push down and frictionally engage tongues of
the trunk 304 to prevent horizontal movement of the trunk 304.
Alternatively or additionally, a detent may be incorporated into
the trunk 304 and the rails 320, 322. The detent may be operative
to lock the trunk 304 in either the back position or the front
position.
[0118] The trunk 300 was described as having the tongues 324
mounted to the trunk 304 and mating left and right rails 320, 322
having grooves 326. However, it is also contemplated that the
reverse configuration may be implemented. In particular, the
grooves 326 may be formed in the members 324 that are attached to
the trunk 304 and the left and right rails 320, 322 may have
tongues that are received into the grooves formed in the members
324.
[0119] To install the trunk 304 to the truck bed 16, the left and
right rails 320, 322 may be attached to the left and right side
walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. As discussed above, there are at
least two methods of attaching or fixedly securing the left and
right rails 320, 322 to the side walls 28, 30. In particular, the
keyhole shaped slots may be formed in the interior surfaces 306,
308 of the truck bed 16. These keyhole shaped slots receive nubs of
the left and right rails 320, 322. The nubs are inserted into
keyhole shaped slot and secured thereto in order to fix the left
and right rails 320, 322. Alternatively, the left and right rails
320, 322 may be bolted to the interior surfaces 306, 308 of the
left and right side walls 28, 30. The left and right rails 320, 322
may have grooves 326. These grooves 326 may be directed inwardly
toward the center of the bed of the truck. These grooves may run
the entire length or a substantial portion of the length of the
truck bed so that the truck trunk 304 may be traversed horizontally
between front and back positions without having to lift the trunk
304 vertically. As shown and described, the groove formed on the
left and right rails 320, 322 receive the tongues of the trunk
304.
[0120] Before tightening the left and right rails 320, 322 to the
interior surfaces 306, 308 of the left and right side walls 28, 30,
the left and right rails 320, 322 may be slightly loose so as to be
capable of rattling. In this state, the tongues 324 of the trunk
304 may be inserted into respective grooves of the left and right
rails 320, 322. With the tongues disposed within the grooves, the
left and right rails 320, 322 may now be adjusted and tightened
onto the interior surfaces 306, 308 of the left and right side
walls 28, 30.
[0121] The tongues may be linearly traversable within the grooves
to allow the trunk 304 to be horizontally traversable between front
and back positions. By being horizontally traversable, a person
that may not be that strong may easily move the trunk between the
front and back positions depending on the desired use of the trunk
304. If the trunk is in the back position, then the user may use
the trunk 304 as a normal place to carry groceries. If the trunk
304 is in the front position, then the user may use the trunk 304
similar to a toolbox. In this fourth embodiment, the top of the
trunk 304 is covered by way of the tonneau cover 302. The tonneau
cover 302 extends the full length of the truck bed so that
regardless of the position of the trunk 304, the top of the trunk
304 covers the trunk 304 when the tonneau cover 302 is in the down
position.
[0122] In operation, the trunk 304 is locked either to the back
position or the front position. If the user wants to segregate a
portion of the truck bed into a smaller area to form a trunk 300,
the user lifts the partition 310 and either disposes the partition
in the middle or in the back side of the trunk 304 by engaging the
partition 310 into the respective grooves. To close the trunk 300,
the user traverses the tonneau cover 302 to the down position. To
access the trunk 300, the user traverses the tonneau cover 302 to
the up position. In this regard, the trunk 300 is versatile in that
it utilizes existing tonneau covers 302.
[0123] The tonneau cover 302 may be a tonneau cover sold in the
market currently or developed in the future. The trunk 304 is
disposed below the tonneau cover 302 so that the trunk 304 operates
in conjunction with tonneau covers 302 sold in the marketplace
currently. The tonneau cover 302 shown in the drawings is one where
the cover 302 is pivoted up and down at a hinge located adjacent to
the cab of the truck. In the down position, the cover 302 closes
the bed area of the truck and also closes off access to the truck
trunk except through the tailgate when the partition 310 is in
place. In the up position, the truck trunk is accessible through
the top of the bed area. The tonneau cover 302 shown in the
drawings are shown as being disposed above the left and right
sidewalls of the truck bed. However, other types of tonneau covers
302 are also contemplated and may be used in conjunction with the
trunk 304. By way of example and not limitation, the trunk 304 may
be used in conjunction with ROLL COVERS sold by TRUCK COVERS USA of
San Diego, Calif. or a BAKFLIP sold by AMAZING TRUCK ACCESSORIES LP
of Conroe, Tex. In these alternative types of tonneau covers, the
covers are flush or below the upper surfaces of the left and right
sidewalls of the truck bed.
[0124] The tonneau cover 302, partition 310 and the trunk 304 may
be fabricated from a generally rigid material. By way of example
and not limitation, any one of the tonneau cover 302, partition 310
and the trunk 304 may be fabricated from steel, aluminum, plastic,
fiberglass, rubber, carbon fiber, canvas, carpet or combinations
thereof. This means that the tonneau cover 302, partition 310 and
the trunk 304 may be fabricated from the same material (e.g., 302,
304, 310 may all be fabricated from carbon fiber) or different
materials (e.g., 302 may be fabricated from steel, 304 may be
fabricated from carbon fiber, 310 may be fabricated from
aluminum).
[0125] Referring now to FIGS. 33-40, various embodiments of a
collapsible folding truck trunk are depicted, which may be
specifically sized and structured to facilitate use of the
collapsible folding truck trunk within an area of the vehicle
including the wheel well, such as the bed of a pickup truck. The
collapsible folding truck trunk may be designed to stretch over the
wheel well or reside between the wheel well and the rear end of the
vehicle. As such, whereas the wheel well has interfered with the
deployment and use of conventional truck trunks, the collapsible
folding truck trunk disclosed herein may be capable of being used
in the area adjacent the wheel well so as to maximize storage on
the vehicle. Furthermore, the collapsible folding truck trunk may
also allow a user to store smaller items, such as groceries, and
other personal items, therein to prevent such items from being
tossed about the bed of the pickup truck during movement of the
pickup truck. In addition, the ability of the trunk to be placed
near the wheel well may allow the user to easily access the
collapsible folding trunk from the rear end of the pickup
truck.
[0126] Referring now to FIG. 33, the pickup truck 18 depicted
therein includes passenger cabin 38, i.e., "cab," and truck bed 16.
The exemplary cab 38 includes a pair of driver's side doors and a
pair of passenger's side doors opposite the driver's side doors. It
is understood that while the exemplary cab 38 includes two rows of
seating, and thus, two doors on each side of the cab 38, it is
contemplated that the pickup truck 18 may include a single row of
seating, and thus, may include only one door on each side of the
cab 38. The cab 38 may include a rear wall 39 positioned behind the
seating in the cab 38 and defining a rear end of the cab 38. Many
pickup trucks 18 include a window in the rear wall 39, but it is
also contemplated that the rear wall 39 may be formed without a
window.
[0127] The truck bed 16 may be positioned to the rear of the cab 38
and may include a forward wall 41 (see FIG. 35), the pair of side
walls 28, 30 and tailgate 36 extending between the pair of side
walls 28, 30 and pivotally coupled to a truck bed floor 23 (see
FIG. 34). The truck bed 16 defines a storage area of the pickup
truck 18, wherein the driver may place items for transport. The
truck bed floor 23 may be formed with ribs to enhance the strength
thereof. The truck bed floor 23 includes a rear end 25 opposite the
cab 38 and adjacent the tailgate 36. The tailgate 36 may be
transitional between a raised position (see FIG. 33), wherein the
tailgate 36 may be generally perpendicular to the truck bed floor
23 to retain items in the truck bed 16, and a lowered position (see
FIGS. 34-40), wherein the tailgate 36 may generally form a
continuation of the truck bed floor 23 to facilitate removal of
items from the truck bed 16. It is understood that instead of a
tailgate 36, some pickup trucks 10 may include a net or other
element extending between the pair of side walls 28, 30 adjacent
the rear of the truck bed 16 to prevent items from sliding off the
truck bed 16 as the pickup truck 18 moves.
[0128] The pickup truck 18 additionally includes a pair of front
wheels 27, a pair of rear wheels 29, and a pair of wheel wells 31
(see FIG. 34) formed therein to accommodate the pair of rear wheels
29. In this regard, the wheel wells 31 include the portion of the
truck bed 16 that extends over the rear wheels 29. The wheel wells
31 may be spaced from the rear end 25 of the truck bed floor 23 by
a distance D. In many instances, each wheel well 31 may include a
protruding portion that extends above the truck bed floor 23
between the side walls 28, 30 of the truck bed 16. The protruding
portion in the exemplary embodiment includes an arcuate body.
[0129] As shown in FIG. 32, a tonneau cover 432 may extend over the
truck bed 16 to enclose the storage area defined by the truck bed
16. The tonneau cover 432 may be selectively transitional between
an extended configuration (see FIG. 33) and a collapsed
configuration (see FIGS. 34-40). In the extended configuration, the
tonneau cover 432 may extend over the truck bed 16 in one direction
from the tailgate 36 to the forward wall 41, and in another
direction between the pair of side walls 28, 30. As the tonneau
cover 432 moves from the extended configuration toward the
collapsed configuration, the degree by which the tonneau cover 432
extends over the truck bed 16 may decrease, and vice versa. The
tonneau cover 432 may be folded or rolled onto itself to assume the
collapsed configuration. In the exemplary embodiment, the tonneau
cover 432 is formed of three panels 434 or regions pivotally
coupled to each other to facilitate selective transition of the
tonneau cover 432 between the extended configuration and the
collapsed configuration. The three panels 434 may be folded onto
each other, and moved toward the cab 38 to assume the collapsed
configuration and to uncover the truck bed 16.
[0130] Referring now specifically to FIG. 34, one embodiment of a
collapsible folding truck trunk 436 is shown in a collapsed
configuration and is stored against the forward wall 41 of the
truck bed 16. In the collapsed configuration, the collapsible
folding truck trunk 436 may be folded so as to be sized to fit
within the truck bed 16 and may be capable of having a form factor
which does not protrude above an upper surface 43 the truck bed 16
so as not to interfere with the tonneau cover 432 when the tonneau
cover 432 is in the extended configuration. In one implementation,
when the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 is in the collapsed
configuration, the periphery of the collapsible folding truck trunk
436 may be slightly smaller than the forward wall 41 of the truck
bed 16. As will be described in more detail below, the collapsible
folding truck trunk 436 may be transitional from the collapsed
configured to a deployed configuration for use in storing items
within the truck bed 16. As used herein, the term "collapse" may
refer broadly to the ability to transition from a deployed,
enlarged configuration, to a stowed, smaller configuration. Thus,
with regard to the collapsible folding truck trunk 436, it is
contemplated that the trunk 436 may be "collapsed" via folding,
bunching, rolling, deflating, bending, or other techniques known in
the art which allow the trunk to occupy a smaller volume.
[0131] FIGS. 34 and 35 show the collapsible folding truck trunk 436
in the collapsed configuration, while FIG. 36 shows the collapsible
folding truck trunk 436 in an intermediate configuration between
the collapsed configuration and the deployed configuration, and
FIGS. 37 and 38 show the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 in the
deployed configuration.
[0132] The collapsible folding truck trunk 436 may include a base
wall 440 (see FIGS. 37 and 38) and a side wall 442 (see FIGS. 37
and 38) pivotally connected to the base wall 440. The base wall 440
may be sized and structured so as to extend over the floor 23 of
the truck bed 16 when the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 is in
the deployed configuration. The base wall 440 may be comprised of a
plurality of base panels 444 pivotally connected to each other. In
the exemplary embodiment, the base wall 440 includes a pair of base
panels 444 separated by a pivot fold 446, wherein each of the base
panels 444 is of a quadrangular configuration. However, it is
contemplated that the shape and number of base panels 444 may vary
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure. For instance, the base wall 440 may be circular, and
include semi-circular base panels. Each base panel 444 may be
comprised of a rigid insert surrounded by a fabric cover, such as a
cardboard, plastic, or rubber insert surrounded by a nylon fabric
cover, plastic sheet or rubber sheet. Other materials may be used
for the insert and/or the cover without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure.
[0133] The base wall 440 may interface with the floor 23 of the
truck bed 16 when the trunk 436 is in the deployed configuration,
and thus, at least one surface of the base wall 440 may include a
gripping material, such as rubber, along an external surface
thereof. The gripping material may inhibit sliding of the trunk 436
during movement of the truck 18.
[0134] The side wall 442 may extend from the base wall 440 and
terminates at an upper edge 448. The side wall 442 and base wall
440 may collectively define a storage cavity 450. The side wall 442
may be comprised of plurality of side wall panels. The exemplary
truck trunk 436 includes a first side wall panel 452 extending
along a longitudinal edge of the base wall 440, second and third
side wall panels 454, 456 extending in opposed relation to each
other and from opposed ends of the first side wall panel 452, and a
fourth side wall panel 458 in opposed relation to the first side
wall panel 452. The side wall panels 452, 454, 456, 458 may
collectively define the side wall 442, which extends around at
least a portion of the base wall 440. Although the exemplary
embodiment includes four side wall panels, it is contemplated that
the side wall 442 may be comprised of a single, continuous side
wall panel. One or more of the side wall panels 452, 454, 456, 458
may have a pocket panel coupled thereto to form a pocket for
storage of smaller items, such as keys, or other small, personal
items.
[0135] As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the fourth side wall panel 458
may include a cutout 460 extending from the upper edge 448 and
toward the base wall 440. The cutout 460 may be sized and
structured to facilitate insertion of items into the storage cavity
450, and removal of items from the storage cavity 450, particularly
when the tailgate 36 is lowered. Although the exemplary embodiment
includes a trunk 436 having a fourth side wall panel 458 having a
cutout 460 formed therein, it is contemplated that the fourth side
wall panel 458 may be absent in other embodiments of the trunk 436,
in which case the trunk 436 includes an opening opposite the first
side wall panel 452 which is effectively the same size as the first
side wall panel 452.
[0136] The collapsible folding truck trunk 436 may be selectively
transitional between the collapsed configuration and the deployed
configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the plurality of
base panels 444 may overlap each other, such that the base panels
444 are pivoted onto each other so as to define a common footprint.
Moreover, in the collapsed configuration, the side wall panels 452,
454, 456 may be folded or bunched together to assume a minimal
size. When the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 is in the
collapsed configuration, the trunk 436 may assume a generally
planar configuration, to facilitate placement of the collapsed
trunk 436 against the forward wall 41 of the truck bed 16, or
alternatively, for placement within the cab 38, such as behind a
row of passenger seating, as is shown in FIG. 40.
[0137] In the deployed configuration, the plurality of base panels
444 may be co-planar to each other, such that the base panels 444
are in a side-by-side arrangement, with the pivot fold 46 residing
between the base panels 444. Furthermore, in the deployed
configuration, the side wall panels 452, 454, 456, 458 may assume
respective, generally planar configurations, with the upper edge
448 of the side wall 442 being spaced from the base wall 440. Along
these lines, as the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 moves from
the collapsed configuration toward the deployed configuration, the
upper edge 448 of the side wall 442 may move away from the base
wall 440. Adjacent side wall panels 452, 454, 456, 458 may be
separated by a crease or fold line. Conversely, as the collapsible
folding truck trunk 436 moves from the deployed configuration
toward the stowed configuration, the upper edge 448 may move toward
the base wall 440.
[0138] To transition the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 from
the deployed configuration toward the collapsed configuration, the
side panels 452, 454, 456, 458 may be folded over the base wall
440, which may result in bunching or folding of the side panels
452, 454, 456, 458. For instance, the side wall panels 452, 454,
456 may be folded into a generally triangular configuration as they
are folded onto the base wall 440. Once the side panels 452, 454,
456, 458 are folded onto the base wall 440, the base wall panels
444 may be folded on to each other, with the side panels 452, 454,
456, 458 being captured between the base wall panels 444. The
collapsible folding truck trunk 436 may include a latch or other
locking mechanism for retaining the collapsible folding truck trunk
436 in the collapsed configuration.
[0139] The collapsible folding truck trunk 436 may include one or
more handles 455 connected to respective portions of the side wall
442 to facilitate lifting and carrying of the trunk 436,
particularly when the trunk 436 is in the deployed configuration.
The handles 455 may be fabricated from woven nylon, plastic,
rubber, or other materials known in the art. The trunk 436 may
include at least one pair of handles 455 in opposed relation to
each other, i.e., connected to opposing side wall panels.
[0140] The collapsible folding truck trunk 436 may optionally
include a divider 462 for dividing the storage cavity 450 when the
trunk 436 is in the deployed configuration. In the exemplary
embodiment, the divider 462 may include a divider wall 464 and an
attachment element 466 coupled to the divider wall 464. The
attachment element 466 may be selectively engageable with the base
wall 440 to allow the divider wall 464 to extend upwardly from the
base wall 440 to divide the storage cavity 450 into two discrete
regions. According to one embodiment, the attachment element 466
includes hook and loop fasteners (i.e., VELCRO.TM.) which may be
attachable to a corresponding strip 468 of hook and loop fasteners
extending along the base wall 440 and side wall 442. The attachment
element 466 may extend along one or more vertical edges of the
divider wall 464 to facilitate connection between the divider wall
464 and the side wall 442. The strip 468 formed on the base wall
440 and side wall 442 may be wide enough to allow for selective
positioning of the divider 462 within the trunk 436. In this
regard, the divider 462 may be moved closer to the side wall panel
52, or alternatively, moved away from the side wall panel 452,
based on the desire of the user.
[0141] It is contemplated that the divider 462 may not only divide
the storage compartment into several smaller sub-compartments, the
divider 462 may enhance the overall rigidity of the trunk 436 by
providing a brace or support to opposed side wall panels.
[0142] The divider wall 464 may include sufficient internal
rigidity to independently extend upwardly from the base wall 440
when the attachment element 466 is attached to the base wall 60.
For instance, the divider wall 464 may include a rigid body, such
as a sheet of plastic, cardboard, rubber, or the like.
Alternatively, the divider wall 464 may lack internal rigidity, yet
still be capable of extending upwardly from the base wall 440 via
selective attachment to the side wall 442.
[0143] The divider 462 depicted in FIGS. 37-39 includes a single
divider wall that extends longitudinally through the storage cavity
450 approximately halfway between the side wall panels 452, 458 to
divide the storage cavity 450 into a pair of approximately equal
regions. However, it is contemplated that the divider 462 may
include more than one divider wall, so as to divide the storage
cavity into more than two regions. For instance, the divider may
include a pair of intersecting divider walls that segregate the
storage cavity 450 into four regions. Furthermore, it is
contemplated that the divider may be arranged to extend
transversely across the storage cavity 450, between side wall
panels 454, 456.
[0144] The divider 462 may be capable of assuming a generally
planar configuration, to facilitate storage of the divider 462 when
the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 is in the collapsed
configuration. For instance, the divider 462 may be placed between
the pair of base panels 444 when the collapsible folding truck
trunk 436 is in the collapsed configuration.
[0145] As noted above, the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 may
be specifically sized and structured to accommodate the protruding
configuration of the wheel well 31. In the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 38, the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 may include an
expandable portion 470 which conforms to the physical contour of
the wheel well 31 as it is placed over the wheel well 31. The
expandable portion 470 may be comprised of a resilient, stretchable
element, such as an elastic sheet formed of a stretchable fabric
known in the art. Exemplary materials may include lycra, neoprene,
rubber, as well as other resiliently stretchable materials.
[0146] The expandable portion 470 may form part of the base wall
440 and the side wall 442. In this regard, it is understood that
the remaining portions of the base wall 440 and the side wall 442
may generally be non-expandable or rigid. More specifically, the
non-expandable portion of the base wall 440 may include an edge 472
that is of a configuration which mimics the outer contour of the
wheel well 31. Likewise, the non-expandable portion of the side
wall 442 may include an edge 474 that mimics the outer contour of
the wheel well 31. As such, whereas the non-expandable portions of
the base wall 440 and side wall 442 may be configured to extend
around the periphery of the wheel well 31, the expandable portion
470 may be designed to extend over the wheel well 31 when the
collapsible folding truck trunk 436 is positioned in the truck bed
16, with the side wall panel 452 extending between the wheel wells
31 (e.g., within a plane that intersects the wheel wells 31). The
edges 472, 474 may be sized to extend around the wheel well 31 in
close proximity to the wheel well 31 or spaced away from the wheel
well 31.
[0147] One embodiment of the trunk 436 may include a pair of
expandable portions 470 intended to interface with a respective
wheel well 31. In other words, as the deployed trunk 436 is placed
in the truck bed 16 adjacent the wheel wells 31, each expandable
portion 470 may expand over one of the wheel wells 31 to engage
with the wheel wells 31. The ability of the trunk 436 to engage
with the wheel wells 31 in a cooperatively engageable manner may
not only enhance the ability to store items near the rear of the
pickup truck 18, such engagement may also help to prevent movement
of the trunk 436 within the truck bed 16 during movement of the
pickup truck 18.
[0148] According to one implementation, each expandable portion 470
may extend in one direction from the respective side panel 454, 456
by an amount in the range of 8-24 inches, and in another direction
from the base wall 440 by an amount in the range of 8-24 inches. In
this regard, the size of the expandable portion 470 may be varied
to accommodate wheel wells 31 that vary in dimension. However, it
is also contemplated that the trunk 436 may be useable with
different truck beds 14, with the expandable portion 470 providing
an ability to universally fit different sized wheel wells 14.
[0149] The ability of the expandable portion 470 to expand over the
wheel well 31 as the trunk 436 is placed in its desired position
may be attributable to the elastic nature of the expandable portion
470. Thus, as the expandable portion 470 is placed over the wheel
well 31 and expands, an internal tension within the expandable
portion 470 may increase. Such tension may bias the trunk 436 out
of position on the truck bed 16. However, the trunk 436 may be of
sufficient weight to overcome such biasing force and maintain the
trunk 436 in the desired position.
[0150] According to another embodiment, the expandable portion 470
may be fabricated from a non-elastic, yet expandable structure,
such as a piece of preformed fabric, which is capable of being
deployed over the wheel well 31. In this regard, the term
"preformed" refers to the size and shape of the fabric as being
similar to at least a portion of the wheel well 31 to allow the
expandable portion 470 to extend over the wheel well 31 as the
expandable portion 470 is placed over the wheel well 31. In this
regard, the preformed fabric may be capable of extending over the
wheel well 31 without increasing the tension within the preformed
fabric.
[0151] While the collapsible folding truck trunk 436 depicted in
FIG. 38 may be specifically designed to accommodate the wheel well
31 by including the expandable portion 470 to extend around the
wheel well 31, it is contemplated that other embodiments may
accommodate the wheel well 31 through other structural features.
One such embodiment is depicted in FIG. 39, which includes a
collapsible folding truck trunk 536 which may be formed without an
expandable portion, yet may still allow the truck trunk 536 to be
used without interference from the wheel well 31. In particular,
the collapsible folding truck trunk 536 is designed to be sized and
dimensioned to reside in the space between the wheel well 31 and
the rear end 25 of the truck bed floor 23.
[0152] The collapsible folding truck trunk 536 is similar to the
collapsible folding truck trunk 436 described above, except for the
differences discussed below. Thus, the following discussion of the
truck trunk 536 will be focused on the unique attributes of the
collapsible folding truck trunk 536 relative to the truck trunk
436.
[0153] The collapsible folding truck trunk 536 may include a base
wall 140 and a side wall 142 including side panels 552, 554, 556,
558. The collapsible folding truck trunk 536 may include a depth
"d" defined as the distance between the side panels 552, 558, or in
the case of a trunk 536 which does not include a side panel 558,
the distance between the opposed lateral edges of the base wall
540. The collapsible folding truck trunk 536 may be sized and
dimensioned such that the depth "d" of the collapsible folding
truck trunk 536 is slightly less than or equal to the distance D
between the wheel well 31 and the rear end 25 of the truck bed
floor 23. The side panel 552 may abut against the wheel wells 31,
which may prevent the trunk 536 from sliding toward the cab 38
during movement of the truck 18. In other words, in the deployed
position, the collapsible folding truck trunk 536 may be positioned
relative to the wheel well 31 such that the side panel 552 extends
in a plane that does not intersect the wheel well 31, or that forms
a tangent to the wheel well 31.
[0154] Therefore, when the collapsible folding truck trunk 536 is
deployed, a user may place the collapsible folding truck trunk 536
within the truck bed 16 between the space between the wheel well 31
and the rear end 25 of the truck bed floor 23. As such, the wheel
well 31 does not interfere with the collapsible folding truck trunk
536, and thus, the collapsible folding truck trunk 536 is capable
of residing on the truck bed floor 23 with the base wall 140 being
substantially parallel to the plane defined by the truck bed floor
23.
[0155] The collapsible folding truck trunk 436, 536 may include a
cover 560 for enclosing items stored therein. The cover 560 may be
engageable with the side wall 442, 542 to extend over the storage
cavity. The cover 560 may be engageable with the side wall 442, 542
via a zipper, snaps, hook and loop fasteners (i.e., VELCRO.TM.),
etc. The cover 560 may include an upper panel 562 and/or a side
panel 564. For instance, both the upper panel 562, 564 may be
included to completely cover the openings of the truck trunk 436,
536. Alternatively, the cover 560 may include only the upper panel
562, thereby leaving a vertical opening in the trunk 436, 536. The
vertical opening may be aligned with the tailgate 36 when the
tailgate is in the raised position to cover the vertical opening.
Furthermore, the vertical opening may be exposed or uncovered to
provide access to the interior of the trunk when the tailgate 36 is
in the lowered position. Alternatively, the cover 560 may only
include the side panel 564, thereby leaving the upper portion of
the trunk 436, 536 exposed.
[0156] It is contemplated that the truck trunk 436, 536, and the
cover 560 may be formed from a waterproof material (e.g., plastic)
or have a waterproof coating applied thereto to protect items
contained therein from water damage, particularly when the trunk
436, 536 is used in the bed 16 of a pickup truck 18, and exposed to
the natural elements.
[0157] Although the figures show various embodiments of a
collapsible folding truck trunk used in the bed of a pickup truck,
it is understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not
limited thereto. For instance, it is contemplated that other
versions of a collapsible folding trunk may be used in a sedan,
station wagon, sport utility vehicle (SUV), hatchbacks, or other
vehicles known in the art. Moreover, it is contemplated that
various embodiments of the collapsible trunk may be used to
accommodate not only wheel wells, but other structural features
protruding into the storage space of a vehicle. Furthermore, the
term "trunk" is used broadly herein to encompass any container for
storing items.
[0158] The above description is given by way of example, and not
limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art
could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the
invention disclosed herein, including various ways of locking the
lid 34. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed
herein may be used alone, or in varying combinations with each
other and are not intended to be limited to the specific
combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not
to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
* * * * *