Vehicle storage assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10723282-B2
Application number	US-201615256408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Jul 9, 2014
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle storage assembly includes a bracket, a mounting plate, a post having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the post rotatably coupled to the bracket and the proximal end of the post rotatably coupled to the mounting plate, an upper member defining a frame configured to support a rigging accessory, a lower member, and a locking member. The upper member includes an outer wall and a plurality of supports defining a plurality of stations. The lower member includes an outer panel and a plurality of partitions defining a plurality of cavities configured to receive the rigging accessory. The locking member is positioned to selectively fix the orientation of the post, the upper member, and the lower member thereby facilitating operator access to a desired one of the plurality of stations.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tow truck, comprising:
a chassis;
a body coupled to the chassis;
a vehicle storage assembly comprising:
a bracket coupled to the body;
a mount coupled to the body;
a post having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the post is rotatably coupled to the bracket and the second end of the post is rotatably coupled to the mount such that the post is rotatable about an axis;
an upper member defining a frame, the upper member comprising:
an outer wall having a cylindrical shape; and
a plurality of supports defining a plurality of stations, wherein the plurality of supports fixedly couple the outer wall to the post;

a lower member, comprising:
an outer panel; and
a plurality of partitions defining a plurality of cavities, wherein the plurality of partitions fixedly couple the outer panel to the post;

a locking member receiver rotatable with the post and defining a plurality of openings extending radially inward from an outer surface of the locking member receiver; and
a locking member including a leg fixedly coupled to a handle, wherein the leg of the locking member is configured to engage with at least one sidewall of one of the plurality of openings to selectively fix the orientation of the post, the upper member, and the lower member thereby facilitating operator access to a desired one of the plurality of stations, wherein the at least one sidewall is positioned to prevent rotation of the locking member receiver about the axis when engaged with the locking member, and wherein the locking member is positioned to permit rotation of the locking member receiver about the axis when disengaged from the openings; and
a rigging accessory, comprising:
a hook supported by the outer wall of the upper member; and
a chain coupled to the hook and extending downward from the hook such that the chain is received within one of the cavities of the lower member.

2. The tow truck of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a storage compartment, and wherein the bracket and the mount are coupled to at least one of an interior wall, an exterior wall, a ceiling, and a floor of the storage compartment such that the bracket and the mount are fixed relative to the body.

3. The vehicle storage assembly tow truck of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the upper member comprises a curved strip having a thickness defined in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the axis, wherein the curved strip has a height defined parallel to the axis, and wherein the height is greater than the thickness such that the curved strip limits rotation of at least the hook of the rigging accessory.

4. The tow truck of claim 3 , wherein the height of the curved strip is a first height, wherein the outer panel of the lower member has a second height defined parallel to the axis, and wherein the second height is greater than the first height.

5. The vehicle storage assembly tow truck of claim 1 , wherein the mount comprises a unitary support member, wherein the locking member is selectively repositionable between (a) an engaged position where the leg of the locking member engages with the at least one side wall of the one of the plurality of openings to prevent rotation of the post, the upper member, and the lower member about the axis and (b) a disengaged position where the locking member does not prevent rotation of the post, the upper member, and the lower member about the axis, and wherein the locking member is entirely supported by the unitary support member at least when the locking member is in the disengaged position.

6. The tow truck of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the partitions has a first upper surface extending between the outer panel and the post, and wherein the first upper surface extends substantially parallel to a second upper surface of the outer panel.

7. The tow truck of claim 1 , wherein the axis is a first axis, wherein the leg extends along a second axis, and wherein the handle extends along a third axis substantially perpendicular to the second axis.

8. A vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
a storage compartment coupled to the chassis;
a rigging accessory including at least one of a chain, a shackle, a hook, a snatch block, and a frame fork; and
a vehicle storage assembly, comprising:
a mount comprising a unitary support member, wherein the mount is coupled to at least one of an interior wall, an exterior wall, a ceiling, and a floor of the storage compartment;
a shaft rotatably coupled to the mount such that the shaft is rotatable about an axis;
a frame coupled to the shaft and having a plurality of stations, wherein at least one of the stations supports the rigging accessory;
a bin coupled to of the shaft and having a plurality of cavities, wherein at least one of the cavities receives the rigging accessory;
a locking member receiver rotatable with the shaft and defining a plurality of openings; and
a locking member including a leg and a grip, wherein the locking member is selectively repositionable between (a) an engaged position where the leg of the locking member engages with at least one sidewall of one of the plurality of openings to prevent rotation of the shaft, the frame, and the bin about the axis and (b) a disengaged position where the locking member does not prevent rotation of the shaft, the frame, and the bin about the axis, thereby facilitating operator access to a desired one of the plurality of stations, wherein the locking member is entirely supported by the unitary support member at least when the locking member is in the disengaged position, and wherein the leg of the locking member is configured to move radially when the locking member is moved between the engaged position and the disengaged position.

9. The vehicle storage assembly of claim 8 , wherein the frame comprises an outer wall having a cylindrical shape and a plurality of supports defining the plurality of stations, wherein the plurality of supports fixedly couple the outer wall to the shaft, and wherein the bin is fixedly coupled to the shaft.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the rigging accessory includes the hook, wherein the outer wall of the frame comprises a curved strip having a thickness defined in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the axis, wherein the curved strip has a height defined parallel to the axis, and wherein the height is greater than the thickness such that the curved strip limits rotation of the hook.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the bin comprises an outer panel and a plurality of partitions defining the plurality of cavities, wherein the height of the curved strip is a first height, wherein the outer panel of the bin has a second height defined parallel to the axis, and wherein the second height is greater than the first height.

12. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the bin comprises an outer panel and a plurality of partitions defining the plurality of cavities, wherein at least one of the partitions has a first upper surface extending between the outer panel and the shaft, and wherein the first upper surface extends substantially parallel to a second upper surface of the outer panel.

13. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the leg is fixedly coupled to the grip.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the openings defined by the locking member receiver extend radially inward from an outer surface of the locking member receiver.

15. A vehicle, comprising:
a chassis;
a body coupled to the chassis; and
a vehicle storage assembly coupled to the body, the vehicle storage assembly, comprising:
a bracket defining a cutout;
a mount;
a shaft rotat

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Perron Jacob
• Kresge Bradley

Classifications

• B60R2011/0085

  with adjustment by rotation in their operational position · CPC title

• B60R11/06 Primary

  for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) · CPC title

• A47B49/004

  Cabinets with compartments provided with trays revolving on a vertical axis · CPC title