An improved truck bed toolbox lid and a method of producing the same. The truck bed toolbox lid includes an outer metallic sheet layer comprising a generally rectangular top sheet member, a longitudinal front edge member, two lateral edge members and a longitudinal rear edge member. A metallic liner sheet member is disposed inside the top sheet member in edge contact abutment with beveled inside edges of the front and rear longitudinal edge members and the lateral edge members to create an internal cavity in which the liner is by stitch welding. One or more injection ports are provided through the liner sheet member through which a self-expanding and self-curing, relatively high-density, foam is injected. The stitch welded edge contacts leave non-welded, gas permeable junctions along the wedged cavity periphery at a funneled apex of the edge contacted boundary which facilitate expansion of the foam toward the outermost edges of the cavity.
|
0. 21. A method for producing a truck bed toolbox lid comprising:
providing a metallic top sheet member having depending edge members;
providing a substantially flat metallic liner sheet member;
joining said metallic liner sheet member to said metallic top sheet member in a manner which defines a cavity therebetween; and
injecting foam-forming material into said cavity such that foam formed thereby adheres to said metallic top sheet member and said metallic liner sheet member so as to form a strengthened composite member.
0. 8. A method for producing a truck bed toolbox lid comprising:
providing a metallic top sheet member having a depending front edge member, a depending rear edge member and depending lateral edge members;
providing a metallic liner sheet member;
joining said metallic liner sheet member to said metallic top sheet member to define an internal cavity; and
injecting a self-expanding, self-curing foam into said internal cavity such that said foam adheres to said metallic top sheet member and said metallic liner sheet member, and such that said metallic top sheet member, said foam and said metallic liner sheet member form a rigid composite member upon curing of said foam.
0. 15. A method for producing a truck bed toolbox lid comprising:
providing a metallic top sheet member having a depending front edge member, a depending rear edge member and depending lateral edge members;
providing a metallic liner sheet member;
joining said metallic liner sheet member to said metallic top sheet member to define an internal cavity; and
injecting a self-expanding, self-curing foam into said internal cavity such that said foam adheres to said metallic top sheet member and said metallic liner sheet member, and such that upon curing of said foam the rigidity of the combination of said metallic top sheet member and said metallic liner sheet member is increased.
0. 24. A method for producing a truck bed toolbox comprising:
forming a lid by steps including
providing a metallic top sheet member having depending edge members;
providing a substantially flat metallic liner sheet member;
joining said metallic liner sheet member to said metallic top sheet member in a manner which defines a cavity therebetween; and
injecting foam-forming material into said cavity such that foam formed thereby adheres to said metallic top sheet member and said metallic liner sheet member so as to form a strengthened composite member;
providing a generally rectangular, generally tub-shaped, open-topped lower receptacle;
joining the lid to the lower receptacle in a manner which permits the lid to pivot upwardly to expose the interior of the lower receptacle.
1. A method for producing a truck bed toolbox lid comprising:
providing a metallic top sheet member having a depending front edge member, a depending rear edge member and depending lateral edge members, wherein an edge perimeter is formed along the depending front, rear and lateral edge members;
providing a substantially flat metallic liner sheet member;
joining said metallic liner sheet member to said metallic top sheet member in edge contact abutment with said edge perimeter so as to define an internal cavity having a funneled, gas permeable apex boundary; and
injecting a self-expanding, self-curing foam into said internal cavity in an amount such that said internal cavity is completely filled upon expansion of said foam, wherein said foam expands toward said funneled, gas permeable apex boundary and cures, such that said foam adheres to said metallic top sheet member and said metallic liner sheet member, and such that said metallic top sheet member, said foam and said metallic liner sheet member form a rigid composite member.
2. The method of
3. The method of
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. The method of
0. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of sizing said metallic liner sheet member such that it is substantially coextensive with said metallic top sheet member.
0. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of configuring said metallic liner sheet member such that it is planar.
0. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said joining step comprises disposing said metallic liner sheet member parallel to said metallic top sheet member.
0. 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of bracing said metallic liner sheet member prior to said injecting step, such that said metallic liner sheet member is prevented from flexing outward after injection of said foam.
0. 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of heating said metallic liner sheet member and said metallic top sheet member prior to said injecting step.
0. 14. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of heating said metallic liner sheet member and said metallic top sheet member during said injecting step.
0. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of sizing said metallic liner sheet member such that it is substantially coextensive with said metallic top sheet member.
0. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of configuring said metallic liner sheet member such that it is planar.
0. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said joining step comprises disposing said metallic liner sheet member parallel to said metallic top sheet member.
0. 19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of bracing said metallic liner sheet member prior to said infecting step, such that said metallic liner sheet member is prevented from flexing outward after injection of said foam.
0. 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of heating said metallic liner sheet member and said metallic top sheet member.
0. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein sufficient foam-forming material is injected into said cavity such that the final product lid can be deflected in excess of four inches while remaining uncrimped, with no permanent set, when said lid is secured on a horizontal platform with approximately half the length of said lid extending beyond said platform and said lid is subjected to center pressure adjacent one of said depending edge members.
0. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein sufficient foam-forming material is injected into said cavity such that the final product lid can be deflected to 7.5 inches while remaining uncrimped, with no permanent set, when said lid is secured on a horizontal platform with approximately half the length of said lid extending beyond said platform and said lid is subjected to corner pressure adjacent one of said depending edge members.
0. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein sufficient foam-forming material is injected into said cavity such that the lid can be deflected in excess of four inches while remaining uncrimped, with no permanent set, when said lid, before being joined to the lower receptacle, is secured on a horizontal platform with approximately half the length of said lid extending beyond said platform and said lid is subjected to center pressure adjacent one of said depending edge members.
0. 26. The method of claim 24, wherein sufficient foam-forming material is injected into said cavity such that the lid can be deflected to 7.5 inches while remaining uncrimped, with no permanent set, when said lid, before being joined to the lower receptacle, is secured on a horizontal platform with approximately half the length of said lid extending beyond said platform and said lid is subjected to corner pressure adjacent one of said depending edge members.
0. 27. The method of claim 24, wherein said metallic liner sheet member is joined to said metallic top sheet member at a plurality of discrete locations with gaps therebetween through which gas can escape.
0. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said metallic liner sheet member is joined to said metallic top sheet member by welding.
0. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said metallic liner sheet member is joined to said metallic top sheet member by stitch welding.
0. 30. The method of claim 24, wherein the metallic top sheet member is 0.063 inch thick.
|
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/300,968, filed Nov. 20, 2002, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/779,228, filed Feb. 8, 2001 now abandoned, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/181,858, filed Feb. 11, 2000.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to the field of truck bed toolboxes. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved truck bed toolbox and toolbox lid combination that is structurally improved to better withstand the bending and twisting forces experienced by such toolboxes as disposed and utilized in the beds of pick-up trucks, and the method of manufacturing such truck bed toolbox lid.
2. Description of the Related Art
A truck bed toolbox is a well known pick-up truck accessory which is essentially a storage cabinet designed for outdoor exposure and having a distinctive outer contour and dimensions suitable for being fixedly mounted in the open bed of a pick-up truck, generally just to the rear of the passenger compartment. Such a toolbox typically comprises a generally rectangular, open topped lower receptacle or tub, to which is pivotally attached one or more lid members. A single lid is typically attached by hinges affixed along the longitudinal rear edge of the lid and the back wall of the tub if a single lid, or a pair of lids are affixed by hinges affixed transversely adjacent the lateral middle of the tub. Closure means, latches, locks or the like are provided to secure the lid or lids in the closed positioned. The box may be provided with lift cylinders and detent means to maintain the lid in the open position, or other features. Such devices are well known, and typified in being constructed of metallic sheet members suitable for accommodating large, heavy metallic tools.
The truck bed box/lid combination are typically constructed of relatively rigid, aluminum sheet material having requisite strength and corrosion resistance characteristics. The individual aluminum panels of a truck bed toolbox typically have a thicknesses of from 0.080 to 0.063 mil, and are welded or mechanically fastened to define the sheet metal box structure characteristic of truck bed tool boxes. Since they must span the width of a truck bed compartment, these specialized toolboxes are relatively large typically ranging from 54 to 75 inches in width, from 19 to 28 inches in depth and from 13 to 14 inches in height. The disproportionate width (i.e. 54 to 75 inches) is a distinct characteristic of truck bed toolboxes for helping to maintain the toolbox anchored in relative abutment with the interior sidewalls of the truck bed such that the toolbox remains within a designated cross section area of the truck bed while experiencing shifting forces resulting from the truck's motion while being driven. The disproportionate width dimension is also useful for truck bed applications by rendering the lid accessible to a user standing on the side of the host truck's bed and reaching over the bed sidewall to open the toolbox.
Because the lid is the main movable component of the toolbox, it is subjected to repetitive forces from many directions and is therefore the component most susceptible to damage or failure. Due to the relatively large width dimension necessitated by the reasons set forth above and its flat, metallic sheet construction, a truck bed tool box lid is particularly susceptible to twisting and bending forces resulting from users opening the toolbox by pushing up on or near an outer end of the lid accessible while standing outside the truck bed. If the lid becomes twisted or otherwise misaligned, proper closure to seal the box from the elements becomes difficult or impossible, and the toolbox must then be repaired or replaced. It is therefore necessary to impart significant rigidity to prevent the lid from bending, crimping, torqueing, twisting, failing or becoming misaligned relative to the tub. It is standard practice to fasten structural bracing members on the underside of the lid to increase planar rigidity, the bracing members extending either longitudinally or laterally, but the efficacy of these brace members is limited by the desire to minimize cost and weight factors, such that manufacturers attempt to use the smallest or the fewest brace members which will still provide a minimally acceptable increase in rigidity and structural integrity.
Another method for increasing the rigidity and structural integrity of the lid is to provide an interior liner sheet to form a cavity into which pre-cured, cut-to-size, rigid foam sheets are inserted. However, in order to achieve the desired load transfer across the component materials necessary to resist shearing and buckling forces requires that adhesive agents be applied to the contact surfaces which greatly increases the time and cost of production of each truck bed toolbox lid. Furthermore, employing pre-formed foam sheets results in cutting the foam sheets to size resulting in significant waste of materials and in environmental hazards in disposing of the same.
It can therefore be appreciated that a need exists for an improved truck bed toolbox lid and method of producing the same, wherein the truck bed toolbox lid is lighter and less susceptible to misalignment.
An improved truck bed toolbox, an improved truck bed toolbox lid, and a method of producing the same are disclosed herein. The truck bed toolbox lid includes a metallic liner bounded cavity filled with high density injected foam to provide superior strength and rigidity, to maintain the lid alignment and to virtually eliminate the need to adjust lid strikers. In accordance with the present invention, the lid comprises an outer layer of aluminum or similar sheet material, the outer layer comprising a generally rectangular top sheet member, a longitudinal front edge member, two lateral edge members and a longitudinal rear edge member, where the edge members depend from the metallic top sheet member and overlap the upper edges of the truck bed toolbox rectangular tub or base. A liner sheet member of aluminum or other suitable metal is positioned to the inside of and substantially parallel to the metallic top sheet member. The liner sheet member is spaced a short distance from the top sheet member to create an internal cavity in which the liner is disposed in edge contact abutment with beveled inside edges of the front and rear longitudinal edge members and the lateral edge members by stitch welding. One or more injection ports are provided through the liner sheet member through which a self-expanding and self-curing, relatively high-density, foam is injected to completely fill the interior cavity. The stitch welded edge contacts leave non-sealed, gas permeable junctions along the wedged cavity periphery at the funneled apex of the edge contacted boundary which facilitate expansion of the foam toward the outermost edges of the cavity to maximize the foam coverage at points furthest from the foam injection site. The cured, expanded foam adheres to the inside surfaces of the metallic top sheet member and the inside surface of the metallic liner sheet member, creating a rigid composite structure whereby shearing and twisting forces are more evenly distributed through the composite structure, such that the lid is able to withstand much greater detrimental forces without permanent flexing, bending, crimping or failure.
With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment.
As explained in further detail with reference to the figures, the present invention is directed to an improved truck bed toolbox lid having greater rigidity and resistance to bending and twisting than standard constructions, where the improved lid is relatively easy to manufacture at lower costs. The improved internal support is provided by an improved injected foam process and results in a highly resilient truck bed toolbox lid having optimum rigidity characteristics such that the thickness of the lid shell material may be reduced (from 0.080 mil to 0.063 mil, for example) while increasing the flexural integrity of the lid. Furthermore, the improved truck bed toolbox lid assembly method described herein provides a more efficient assembly line process resulting in less man-hours per toolbox assembly and a corresponding increase in the rate of production.
With reference now to the figures wherein like reference numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout, and in particular with reference to
Preferably, the tub 15 is produced by cutting and folding an aluminum sheet to create the front, bottom and back walls with the side walls welded to create the full base structure. Likewise, the outer panels of the lid 20 are preferably formed by cutting and folding a single aluminum sheet to form the top sheet member 21, front edge member 22, lateral edge members 23 and rear edge member 24.
Referring to
The truck bed toolbox lid 20 further comprises a metallic liner sheet member 30, preferably formed of a sheet metal such as aluminum, which is mounted on the inside of the metallic top sheet member 21. The metallic liner sheet member 30 is preferably planar and substantially coextensive and parallel with the metallic top sheet member 21 in the horizontal direction, but is separated from the metallic top sheet member 21 a short distance to define an interior cavity 42. As depicted in
With reference to
Between the multiple stitch welds 99 are corresponding weld gaps 36 through which air and gases incident to the foam expansion process can escape through the gas permeable non-welded portions of the liner-to-top-sheet-member edge junction at the periphery of the inner liner member 30 that facilitates comprehensive migration of the foam toward the edges of the inner liner member 30 thereby defining a funneled, gas permeable apex boundary. This gas exhaust capability is usefully employed in the parallel plane boundary of the internal cavity 42 in which upon injection of the liquid foam, pockets of air and other gases may become sealed off by the expanding foam from otherwise available vent holes through the surface of liner sheet member 30. The parallel plane internal contour of the internal cavity 42 ensures that gasses that are not exhausted through the injection or ventilation ports in the surface of the inner sheet member 30 are directed toward the outermost apex boundary of the internal cavity 42 where the wedged contour of the liner-sheet-to-beveled-edge boundary creates a nozzle effect that facilitates expulsion of the gasses through the weld gaps 36. Furthermore, although gas permeable, the non-welded contact junctions at weld gaps 36 between the edges of the inner liner 30 and the beveled portions of the top sheet edges 22, 23 and 24 provides a significant degree of resistance to foam expansion to prevent excessive foam expansion through the weld gaps 36 sufficient to account for any incidental process variations of a timed or metered foam injection process.
An alternative truck bed toolbox lid 25 is depicted in
It has been found that the presence of the cured foam 40 in the interior cavity 42 bonding the upper sheet member 21 to the metallic liner sheet member 30 is a much stronger construction than that of the previously known constructions, enabling thinner metal sheets to be utilized in the construction of the lids 20 and obviating the need for interior bracing members, which lowers material costs yet still provides improved properties over standard constructions. For example, a suitable lid 20 is formed with a one half to three quarter inches in depth cavity 42 between a liner sheet member 30 of only 0.050 mil metallic sheet thickness and a top sheet member 21 of only 0.063 mil metallic sheet thickness.
Referring to
Following application of hot glue seal 34, the truck bed toolbox lid 20 is placed in a clam-style jig in preparation for the foam injection process.
Following the foam injection process, the injection ports 41 are covered by one or more adhesive members so that the foam 40 does not expand through the injection ports 41. The lid 20 is left in the jig for sufficient time such that the vast majority of the expansion has occurred, and the lid 20 is then removed from the jig and allowed to fully cure. With this structure, the lid 20 can be further processed, such as by powder coating, painting or the like to produce aesthetic improvements, some of which processes require high temperature environments detrimental to the foam 40, with the foam 40 later injected into the interior cavity 42 to increase structural rigidity and stiffness.
Tests on lids 20 constructed as described versus standard lids or lids with inserted pre-cured, cut-to-size, foam panels show remarkable improvements relative to desired stiffness characteristics. In a first test apparatus, lids were clamped or secured along one end to a horizontal platform such that approximately half the lid extended beyond the edge of the platform. Pressure was applied using a hydraulic jack to the free end of the lid adjacent the free lateral edge member 23 at the midpoint or center. Pressure was applied until the lid failed, with failure defined to be crimped edges with the lid taking on a permanently deformed set. The lid 20 of the invention was able to withstand up to 480 psi of vertical pressure prior to failure, while the standard lid construction failed at 250 psi and the insert construction failed at 360 psi. In addition, the standard lid construction failed at only 1.25 inches of deflection, the insert construction failed at only 4 inches of deflection, while the lid 20 of the invention did not fail until deflected 6.25 inches. In other words, the lid 20 of the invention could be flexed slightly less than 6.25 inches at 480 psi and would resume its pre-test shape without any permanent deformation.
In a second test, the pressure was applied to one corner of the free end of the lids to introduce torque. For the torque load tests, the invention withstood up to 490 psi without failure, while the standard lid failed at 280 psi and the insert lid failed at 310 psi. The standard lid failed at only 1.25 inches of deflection and the insert construction failed at only 5 inches of deflection. The lid 20 of the invention did not fail even at deflection of almost 7.5 inches under the failure definition set forth above.
It is contemplated that equivalents and substitutions to certain elements set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and thus the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.
Jones, Larry K., Giddens, Jimmy, Ottavi, Neil
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10744952, | Jan 25 2019 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Sports bar storage compartment |
9314919, | May 12 2014 | WERNER CO | Truck box with reinforced lid |
D943278, | Jan 09 2020 | Toolbox lid |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
3078003, | |||
3678703, | |||
3841479, | |||
3854620, | |||
3948407, | Jun 27 1973 | Franklin Manufacturing Company | Refrigerated cabinet construction |
4107833, | Dec 09 1976 | General Electric Company | Structural support for a refrigerator |
4190305, | Dec 09 1976 | General Electric Company | Structural support for a refrigerator |
4674665, | Aug 29 1986 | LRV CORPORATION, A CORP OF IN | Vehicle tool box with peripheral drain means |
4844531, | Jan 04 1988 | STEFFENS ENTERPRISES, INC , 3529 PATTERSON S E , GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49508 A CORP OF MI | Folding cover for pickup box |
5111955, | Aug 16 1990 | HALLIBURTON COMPANY, A CORP OF DE | Non-metallic acid hatch |
5169200, | Apr 27 1992 | Pickup truck storage box | |
5588731, | Jul 17 1995 | Whirlpool Corporation | Refrigerator door construction |
5597086, | Mar 18 1996 | Moistureproof tea container and food thermos | |
5632522, | Jun 11 1996 | Time Manufacturing Company | Hinge assembly for a bed cover of a truck |
5720142, | Dec 29 1995 | Overhead Door Corporation | Foam-filled door and method of manufacture |
5720407, | Apr 16 1993 | Foam cap for evaporative coolers | |
5722133, | Oct 21 1994 | Combination burial vault and casket having a sealed interior | |
5743586, | Feb 06 1997 | COVERCRAFT INDUSTRIES, INC | Hard shell tonneau cover |
6138432, | Oct 30 1998 | Camco Inc. | Refrigerator door construction |
6217102, | Oct 26 1998 | Apparatus for covering a truck box (tonneau cover) and mounting structure therefor | |
6257640, | Jan 19 2000 | LUND MOTION PRODUCTS, INC | Vehicle bed storage box |
6295787, | Sep 03 1999 | Mando Climate Control Corporation | Insulated outer structure for refrigerated food storage apparatus and foam injection method using the same |
6340194, | Jun 25 1999 | STK, LLC | Hard truck bed cover |
6431633, | Nov 02 2000 | LAZER LITE COVERS, LLC | Cover for a pickup truck bed |
6830167, | Jul 31 2002 | LUND, INC | Box lid, method for manufacturing a box lid, and pickup truck bed box |
7168590, | Feb 11 2000 | Curt Manufacturing, LLC | Truck bed toolbox lid |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
May 10 2007 | Thule Sweden AB | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Sep 10 2007 | UNITED WELDING SERVICES, INC | THULE, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 019892 | /0994 | |
Oct 10 2007 | THULE, INC | Thule Sweden AB | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 019974 | /0873 | |
Jun 16 2017 | Thule Sweden AB | GOLDCUP 14855 AB | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 042738 | /0299 | |
Jul 14 2017 | NEW PALM FLORIDA IP AB F K A GOLDCUP 14855 AB | Curt Manufacturing, LLC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 043797 | /0692 |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Sep 28 2012 | M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity. |
Nov 01 2012 | R2552: Refund - Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Yr, Small Entity. |
Nov 01 2012 | STOL: Pat Hldr no Longer Claims Small Ent Stat |
Oct 24 2016 | M1553: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 12th Year, Large Entity. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Nov 29 2014 | 4 years fee payment window open |
May 29 2015 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Nov 29 2015 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Nov 29 2017 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Nov 29 2018 | 8 years fee payment window open |
May 29 2019 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Nov 29 2019 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Nov 29 2021 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Nov 29 2022 | 12 years fee payment window open |
May 29 2023 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Nov 29 2023 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Nov 29 2025 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |