Storage device for a pickup truck bed

Claim 1

A storage device for a pickup truck bed having a bottom bed wall and opposed side bed walls projecting upward from the bottom bed wall, comprising: (a) a compartment element having a longitudinal rear wall, a longitudinal front wall and opposed first and second end walls and an open top, said compartment element being adapted to be received on the bottom bed wall of a pickup truck bed with said longitudinal rear and front walls extending transversely of said bed between said side bed walls, in an operative position; (b) a lid element having a rear panel, a front panel, opposed first and second end panels, a top panel, and an open bottom, (c) hinge means connecting said rear panel to said rear wall to permit said lid element to swing between a closed position engaging said compartment element to enclose the inside space between said compartment element and said lid element, and an open position away from said compartment element; (d) rear securing means comprising an elongated mounting tube having opposite open ends and fixed longitudinally on said rear wall, first and second elongated lock shafts telescopingly received within said mounting tube and having free ends projecting from said opposite ends, gripping means on each of said free ends to securely grip the corresponding opposite side bed walls of a pickup truck in said operative position, and spring means normally biasing said lock shafts outward from said mounting tube toward engagement with the opposite side walls; (e) front securing means comprising first and second slide bearings mounted inside said front wall adjacent said corresponding opposite end walls, a first lock rod having a free end slidably received in said first slide bearing for longitudinal movement transversely of said first end wall, a second lock rod having a free end slidably received in said second slide bearing for longitudinal movement transversely of said second end wall, gripping means on said free ends of said lock rods, said lock rods being slidably movable between a locking position projecting transversely from the outside of said end walls in which said gripping means engage the opposite side bed walls in said operative position, and a retracted unlocked position; (f) rod securing means for holding said lock rods in said operative positions; shaft lock means for locking said lock shafts in various positions protracting from said mounting tube; and (g) lock means for securing said lid element to said compartment element in said closed position.