Vehicle tool box assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539957-B2
Application number	US-201514669594-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2015
Priority date	Mar 26, 2015
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle tool box assembly includes a storage area disposed in a vehicle cargo space and a tool box disposed in the storage area. The tool box includes a body having opposite first and second end walls and an upper surface extending between upper ends of the first and second end walls. A plurality of cut-outs is formed in the upper surface and configured to receive tools. A first lip extends upwardly from the upper surface at the first end wall. A second lip extends upwardly from the upper surface at the second end wall. A cover member is received by the tool box. The cover member includes a first recess received by the first lip and a second recess received by the second lip, thereby substantially preventing movement of the cover member relative to the tool box.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool box for a vehicle cargo space, comprising:
a body having a first end wall, a second end wall disposed opposite the first end wall, an upper surface extending between upper ends of the first and second end walls and a lower surface extending between lower ends of the first and second end walls, a first length from the first end wall to the second end wall being greater than a second length between first and second side walls extending between the first and second end walls;
a plurality of cut-outs formed in the upper surface configured to receive tools;
a first lip extending upwardly from the upper surface at the first end wall;
a second lip extending upwardly from the upper surface at the second end wall;
first and second projections extending downwardly from the lower surface configured to locate to a spare tire disposed in the vehicle cargo space; and
first and second tabs extending from the first end wall of the body in a direction away from the second end wall, the first and second tabs being configured to substantially maintain a spaced apart relationship with a wall of the vehicle cargo space when the tool box is received by the spare tire such that contact between the first and second tabs and the wall substantially prevents rotational movement of the body.

2. The tool box according to claim 1 , wherein
the first lip extends from a first side of the upper surface to a second side of the upper surface; and
the second lip extends from the first side of the upper surface to the second side of the upper surface.

3. The tool box according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second lips have substantially arcuate-shapes.

4. The tool box according to claim 1 , wherein
the first tab is disposed adjacent the first side and the second tab is disposed adjacent the second side.

5. The tool box according to claim 1 , wherein
a plurality of recesses is defined on the lower surface and is configured to minimize contact between the body and the spare tire when the tool box is received by the spare tire.

6. The tool box according to claim 5 , wherein
each of the plurality of recesses is spaced apart from others of the plurality of recesses and extends from the first and second end walls toward the opposite end wall.

7. The tool box according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second projections extend from the first side wall to the second side wall.

8. The tool box according to claim 1 , wherein
the first and second projections are substantially arcuate and are configured to correspond to an inner peripheral edge of the spare tire.

9. A vehicle tool box assembly, comprising:
a storage area disposed in a vehicle cargo space;
a tool box disposed in the storage area, the tool box including
a body having a first end wall, a second end wall disposed opposite the first end wall and an upper surface extending between upper ends of the first and second end walls;
a plurality of cut-outs formed in the upper surface configured to receive tools;
a first lip extending upwardly from the upper surface at the first end wall; and
a second lip extending upwardly from the upper surface at the second end wall;
a cover member received by the tool box, the cover member including a first recess received by the first lip and a second recess received by the second lip, thereby substantially preventing movement of the cover member relative to the tool box; and
first and second tabs extending from the first end wall of the tool box in a direction away from the second end wall and substantially maintaining a spaced apart relationship with a wall of the storage area such that contact between the first and second tabs and the wall of the storage area substantially prevents rotational movement of the body.

10. The vehicle tool box assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
a first length from the first end wall to the second end wall is greater than a second length between first and second side walls extending between the first and second end walls.

11. The vehicle tool box assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the first and second lips extend from a first side of the upper surface to a second side of the upper surface.

12. The vehicle tool box assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
a lower surface extends between lower ends of the first and second end walls; and
a plurality of recesses is defined on the lower surface to minimize contact with a spare tire disposed in the storage area.

13. The vehicle tool box assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
each of the plurality of recesses is spaced apart from others of the plurality of recesses and extends from the first and second end walls toward the opposite end wall.

14. The vehicle tool box assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
a lower surface extends between lower ends of the first and second end walls; and
first and second projections extend downwardly from the lower surface to locate to a spare tire disposed in the vehicle cargo space, the first and second projections extending from the first side wall to the second side wall.

15. The tool box according to claim 14 , wherein
the first and second projections are substantially arcuate and are configured to correspond to an inner peripheral edge of the spare tire.

16. The vehicle tool box assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the first end wall of the tool box is substantially flush with a forward peripheral edge of the cover member to define a substantially continuous edge.

17. The vehicle tool box assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
at least one recess is formed in a wall of the storage area to facilitate gripping the cover member.

18. A vehicle tool box assembly, comprising:
a storage area disposed in a vehicle cargo space;
a tool box disposed in the storage area, the tool box including
a body having a first end wall, a second end wall disposed opposite the first end wall and an upper surface extending between upper ends of the first and second end walls;
a plurality of cut-outs formed in the upper surface configured to receive tools;
a first lip extending upwardly from the upper surface at the first end wall; and
a second lip extending upwardly from the upper surface at the second end wall;
a cover member received by the tool box, the cover member including a first recess received by the first lip and a second recess received by the second lip, thereby substantially preventing movement of the cover member relative to the tool box; and
at least one recess formed in a wall of the storage area to facilitate gripping the cover member.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Engerman Eric

Classifications

• B25H3/02

  Boxes · CPC title

• B25H5/00

  Tool, instrument or work supports or storage means used in association with vehicles; Workers' supports, e.g. mechanics' creepers {(collecting or removing exhaust gases in workshops B08B15/002; vehicle lifting devices, e.g. jacks, platforms or ramps B66F)} · CPC title

• B62D43/10

  and arranged substantially horizontally · CPC title

• B60R11/06 Primary

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

• B60R13/011

  for internal load compartments, e.g. car trunks · CPC title