DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle storage box 10 , according to the present invention, comprises a base structure 12 having a compartment for holding various articles, a lid 14 , a divider or divider means 16 , a lid coupler or lid coupling means 23 , and a divider coupler or divider coupling means 27 . Lid 14 and divider 16 are pivotally coupled to the base structure 12 by hinge 34 . Thus, lid 14 and divider 16 rotate or pivot about the same axis. In a preferred embodiment hinge 34 is a conventional piano hinge. Hinge 34 will be described in more detail below.

[0034] Two compartments exist according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first, or base compartment 20 is defined by the base structure 12 and the bottom surface of divider 16 . The second, or top compartment 18 is defined by the bottom surface of lid 14 and the top surface of divider 16 .

[0035] In addition to the teachings disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,092, which is herein incorporated by reference, vehicle storage box 10 has a lid coupler 23 engaging lid 14 while lid 14 is still in an opened position. Lid coupler 23 further has a lid latch or lid latching means 24 and a lid actuator or lid actuating means 22 . Additionally, divider coupler 27 is comprised of a divider actuator or divider actuator means 28 and a divider latch or divider latching means 26 .

[0036] Uniquely, lid coupler 23 has a first and second lid actuator 22 . Divider coupler 27 has a first and second divider actuator or divider actuating means 28 . First and second lid actuators 22 are connected by a lid actuator connector 30 . First and second divider actuators 28 are connected by a divider actuator connector 32 . These connectors 32 allow the user of vehicle storage box 10 to open and operate simultaneously, or in a dual manner, first and second lid coupler 23 or divider coupler 27 from one side of vehicle storage box 10 . By activating either first or second lid actuator 22 or divider actuator 28 , the other is simultaneously activated via connector 32 coupling them together.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , lid actuator 22 , has a hooking cam 45 having a hook 46 and a cam 47 . Hooking cam 45 is attached to and rotates about bolt 36 , which also serves as a coupling member for stabilizing means 43 and pulley 40 . Bolt 36 attaches lid actuator 22 to base structure 12 , and couples handle 31 to base structure 12 . Lid actuator 22 also comprises a lid actuator connector 35 , which includes a pulley 40 and a cable 30 . Cable 30 connects a lid actuator 22 between a first and second lid actuator 22 for providing simultaneous operation. This allows a user to simultaneously activate both locking mechanisms of the present invention from either side of the vehicle storage box 10 . As a user turns handle 31 on one side of vehicle storage box 10 , pulley 40 rotates. As either pulley 40 rotates, this causes the other pulley 40 to rotate simultaneously because of cable 30 connected there between. This simultaneous rotation causes the activation of hooking cam 45 located on each of first and second lid actuators 22 . Stabilizing means 43 has an eyelet screw 42 and bracket 44 . Bracket 44 is attached to base structure 12 and acts as a brace for eyelet screw 42 . As appreciated by one skilled in the art, stabilizing means 43 may consist of many different arrangements for supporting lid actuator means 22 and is not necessarily limited to bracket 44 and eyelet screw 42 .

[0038] This provides a significant advantage over prior art vehicle storage boxes. Typically, to secure and lock a vehicle storage box with a locking mechanism on each side of the box, the user had to activate each mechanism one at a time because each is independent of the other. This would require the user to activate one lock and then walk around to the other side of the vehicle to activate the other lock. The present invention eliminates this hassle by connecting each of its two coupling means 23 and 27 together.

[0039] Lid actuator 22 is constructed to rotate substantially 180 degrees about bolt 36 . The need to rotate substantially 180 degrees is a function of hooking cam 45 . To enable the user to hook lid latch 24 while lid 14 is still in an opened position, and to then rotate lid actuator 22 to its final position wherein lid latch 24 completely tracks withing cam 47 pulling lid 14 to a closed and secured position, lid actuator must rotate substantially 180 degrees. The range of motion hooking can travels from the first coupling position to the final coupling position is substantially 180 degrees. This allows the relationship between lid actuator and hooking cam 45 to function as intended.

[0040] Pulley 40 further includes a cable set screw 33 coupled to pulley 40 and engaging cable 30 . Cable set screw 33 allows cable 30 to be adjusted and secured in a fixed orientation. Through use, lid actuator 22 may from time to time need adjustment to ensure proper orientation of hooking cam 45 . By loosening cable set screw 33 , cable 30 can be adjusted so that lid actuator 22 is properly oriented ready to accept and engage lid latch 24 .

[0041] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , taken along lines 5 - 5 of FIG. 4 , show a preferred embodiment of lid latch 24 according to the present invention. Lid latch 24 adjustably attaches to lid 14 as shown. Lid latch 24 is a unique feature of the present invention because of its ability to engage lid actuator 22 and to facilitate closing and securing of lid 14 to base structure 12 . Arm 50 , which consists essentially of two substantially L-shaped bars, is pivotally connected by a bolt 62 at one end of arm 50 to bracket 52 , which is attached to the inside of lid 14 . To enable arm 50 to always be in a proper position to engage hook 46 , a spring 54 is attached to arm 50 and bracket 52 . Spring 54 is tensioned such that it pulls arm 50 in a pivoting direction causing it to rest against a stopper 58 . Stopper 58 is coupled to bracket 52 , but is slidably coupled in a slotted aperture 57 wherein stopper 58 may be adjusted. Adjusting stopper 58 subsequently adjusts the biased position of arm 50 as it is pulled by spring 54 . By doing so, arm 50 is always in the same position ready to be engaged with hook 46 . One end of spring 54 attaches to arm 50 via a lower spring support 60 attached to arm 50 a substantial distance away from the pivot point, bolt 62 , of arm 50 such that a moment is created about the pivot point of arm 50 causing arm 50 to rotate or pivot until stopped by stopper 50 . The other end of spring 54 attaches to an upper spring support 56 which is attached to bracket 52 . Spring 54 ensures proper orientation of arm 50 for engaging hook 46 of lid actuator 22 . It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that several embodiments exist which could perform the identical function as the preferred embodiment of the lid latch 24 described herein. For example, arm 50 could be a curved member or a straight member. The critical feature of arm 50 is that it latches lid actuator 22 and is allowed to pivot as it tracks along cam 47 .

[0042] FIGS. 6 - 9 show the operation interaction and the relative positions of the lid latch 24 with respect to the lid actuator 22 as the lid actuator 22 is rotated through its several positions. In connection with lid actuator 22 , latching member 64 of lid latch 24 engages hook 46 of hooking cam 45 . As lid actuator 22 is rotated, latching member 64 on arm 50 of lid latch 24 tracks along cam 47 , thus pulling lid 14 down. Upon full or complete rotation of lid actuator 22 , lid 14 comes to rest within notch 49 . Notch 49 is integrally formed within cam 47 and serves to receive and secure latching member 64 when lid 14 is in a closed and locked position. Notch 49 prevents lid 14 from inadvertently opening when subjected to vibration or bouncing. This is significant because, under varying driving conditions, lid 14 may have a tendency to open. Notch 49 prevents this and ensures lid 14 stays in its secured and locked position.

[0043] In conventional vehicle storage box's, the user must hold down lid 14 in its completely closed position while operating the locking mechanism used to secure lid 14 to the main base structure 12 . The present invention eliminates this problem by providing a storage box 10 that has a lid coupler 23 that can be operated when lid 14 is in a partially opened position. The user need not hold down lid 14 completely to activate the locking mechanism.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of lid coupler 23 just prior to engagement. As lid 14 is lowered, arm 50 comes within the region where hooking cam 45 on lid actuator 22 is able to engage latching member 64 upon rotation of lid actuator 22 . Distance 70 represents the distance between latching member 64 and the axis of rotation 36 of hooking cam 45 .

[0045] FIG. 7 shows the lid coupler 23 at the initial or first coupling position. Lid 14 is lowered and hooking cam 45 is slightly rotated about axis 36 such that hook 46 is able to engage and hook latching member 64 . This represents the first coupling position of lid coupler 23 . Upon hooking latching member 64 , latching member 64 is instantly placed within the cam 47 . At this first coupling position, the user is no longer required to hold lid 14 down. The lid coupler 23 allows the user, if desired, to bring lid 14 to the first coupling position as described above and then let go of lid 14 . Lid 14 is now held down by lid coupler 23 , ready to be closed without further assistance of the user. To close the lid, lid actuator 22 is rotated completely, which will cause latching member 64 to track along cam 47 and pull lid 14 down until latching member comes to rest in notch 49 . At this point, lid 14 is in its secured and locked position. Distance 72 represents the distance between latching member 64 and the axis of rotation 36 at the first coupled position.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows lid coupler 23 at a coupled position half-way through full rotation. Latching member 64 has tracked a distance along cam 47 . Also, lid 14 has been pulled down a distance equal to the distance 72 in FIG. 7 . Distance 74 represents that there is substantially no distance between latching member 64 and the axis of rotation 36 half-way through rotation. Lid 14 is pulled down and travels a distance 72 by rotating lid actuator 22 about halfway around.

[0047] FIG. 9 represents lid coupler 23 at a fully rotated coupled position. This position represents lid 14 in its fully closed and secured position to base structure 12 . As shown by FIG. 9 , latching member 64 has completely tracked cam 47 and is resting within notch 49 . Arm 50 has slightly rotated about axis 62 as latching member 64 has tracked cam 47 . Distance 76 represents the distance between latching member 64 and the axis of rotation 36 for the last portion of rotating lid actuator's 22 rotation. Distance 77 represents the distance traveled by latch member 64 after it has traversed center line 79 . As shown by these several figures, lid 14 travels a combined distance equal to distance 72 , plus distance 76 , minus distance 77 , as lid actuator 22 is rotated from a first coupling position to a final coupling position where lid 14 is closed and secured to base structure 12 . Because of the cam action of cam 47 , as lid actuator 22 is rotated, lid 14 travels the farthest between the first coupling position and the half-way point of rotation illustrated in FIG. 8 . From the half-way point of rotation to the final complete point of rotation of lid actuator 22 , lid 14 travels a lesser relative distance. As appreciated by one skilled in the art, a combination of the forces between lid actuator 22 , lid latch 24 , and the cam action of cam 47 , a rollover effect is achieved as lid actuator 22 is rotated from the half-way point to the point of complete rotation when lid actuator is resting within notch 49 . As latching member 64 is tracking along cam 47 during the final positions of rotation, latching member 64 rolls over into a resting position within notch 49 once latching member 64 crosses or traverses center line 79 . This rollover effect facilitates a secure fit of lid 14 to base structure 12 and aids in the closing of lid 14 . Also, throughout complete rotation of lid actuator 22 , pivot points, 36 and 62 are always in-line. Thus, eliminating any detrimental moment force between the two pivot points 36 and 62 .

[0048] Referring now to FIG. 10 , divider coupler 27 comprises a divider actuator 28 and a divider latch 26 . In a preferred embodiment, divider actuator 28 comprises a latching member 80 pivotally coupled to lid 14 at pivot point 90 . Latching member 80 couples or latches to divider latch 26 shown in FIG. 1 . Coupling divider latch 26 to latching member 80 , divider 16 is secured to lid 14 . Divider 16 , when secured to lid 14 , forms a second compartment of vehicle storage box 10 .

[0049] Divider actuator 28 also functions similarly to lid actuator 22 in that operation of one simultaneously controls operation of the other. In a preferred embodiment, a first and second divider coupler 27 includes a first and second divider actuator 28 coupled to lid 14 . First and second divider actuators 28 are connected to each other by a divider actuator connector 32 which allows the simultaneous operation of first and second divider actuators 28 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10 , divider actuator 28 is pivotally coupled to lid 14 and also to divider actuator connector 32 . Divider actuator connector 32 comprises an angled linking member 82 , a linking member 84 , and a rod 86 . Angled linking member 82 is pivotally coupled to latching member 80 at one end and pivotally coupled to linking member 84 at the other end. Linking member 84 is pivotally coupled to angled linking member 82 at one end and attached to rod 86 at the other end. Rod 86 links the first and second divider actuator 28 together such that a user can operate, simultaneously, the first and second divider coupler from either side of the vehicle.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , divider 16 and lid 14 pivot about the same axis of rotation. This is accomplished using a single hinge 34 . In a preferred embodiment, a modified standard piano type hinge is used having segregated sections for separate attachment of lid 14 and divider 16 . Hinge 34 has one side completely coupled to base structure 12 , while the other side is alternately coupled to divider 16 and to lid 14 by independent sections 96 , which are attached to divider 16 , and sections 98 , which are attached to lid 14 . By doing this, lid 14 and divider 16 can pivot independent of one another or simultaneously.

[0051] Lid 14 also includes a lid plunger 100 of those well known in the art. Lid plunger 100 facilitates opening of lid 14 and supplies the necessary forces to keep lid 14 in an opened position unaided by the user.

[0052] Divider 16 includes a similar plunger, divider plunger 102 , which is smaller in size than lid plunger 100 and that performs a similar function as lid plunger 100 except it acts upon divider 16 . Divider plunger 102 is coupled to base support 12 and divider 16 and provides less relative force to divider 16 than does lid plunger 100 to lid 14 . Divider plunger 102 will not support divider 16 in an opened position, but is of sufficient strength such that it allows divider 16 to slowly descend upon base support 12 . Divider plunger 102 will prevent divider 16 from crashing down upon base support 12 . By providing a plunger with insufficient strength to support divider 16 in an upright position, a user may open lid 14 from a closed position, thereby accessing top compartment 18 , without lifting divider 16 as well.

[0053] As such, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.