"Alignment Cleats" for fitting one box atop another?

[itllgrowback]

Hi folks - I'm having trouble finding terms to search for to find a product I think must exist but can't put my finger on. I'll try to describe what I'm looking to do, and maybe you can help me find what I'm looking for.

I have a storage box mounted in the back of my truck, and another, lighter one that I'd like to put on top of it, in some way that it won't move around once it's there. I envision sliding it into position on flat feet that engage with some fixed cleats that I'll install on the top of the box beneath.

I have an image in my head of some stamped metal cleats, U-shaped, open on one side, with a raised rim on the other three, which would accept a disc-shaped foot into it from the one open side. I could mount four of those cleats on the top of the lower box, and four matching feet on the underside of the one above. The picture in my head is clear enough that I think I must have seen them in some application already, but I can't find the right terms to come up with anything similar.

Here's a quick napkin sketch of what I'm envisioning:



Does anyone have any thoughts on what to search for, or another idea for an engagement method for one box atop another like that?

 

[PassnThru]

So basically like an anti-tip bracket for a stove.

 

[itllgrowback]

So basically like an anti-tip bracket for a stove.

Ah, good call - I hadn't made that connection. Hopefully I can find something a bit more polished and presentable, but yeah that's very close in function to the idea I had in mind. Thanks!

 

[sick467]

Your looking for "interlock brackets", but let's say you use them...they all have to face the same direction on one box and the opposite on the other which will leave the upper box the ability to shift against that direction and come off. You will need a way to lock the top box to the bottom box to avoid that reverse motion and a slide off. Look at adding a DeStaCo clamp to lock it in place.

 

[alfazer]

Have a look at the coupling systems used for stacking flight cases together, used by musicians, sound and light roadies.

 

[itllgrowback]

Your looking for "interlock brackets", but let's say you use them...they all have to face the same direction on one box and the opposite on the other which will leave the upper box the ability to shift against that direction and come off. You will need a way to lock the top box to the bottom box to avoid that reverse motion and a slide off. Look at adding a DeStaCo clamp to lock it in place.

Interlock brackets! Cool. I see they have some at Rockler and McMaster to get some ideas going. I need something heavy-duty enough that I can set the box on the ground without bending the bracket (or getting dirt and shmutz in there); that's why I was thinking of "feet". These wall hangers might work though.

In this particular case, once the top box is in place, the closed rear door (of my FJ) would "lock" it in place and prevent it from sliding anywhere unless the door is open.

 

[itllgrowback]

Have a look at the coupling systems used for stacking flight cases together, used by musicians, sound and light roadies.

Oh, good idea that! I'll take a look.

 

[Mike Folks]

French Cleats are interlocking metal pieces used sometimes in woodworking. See if Rockler, or other suppliers have them?

 

[nh_yota]

Just make sure you figure out some way to lock it all in place so the top box doesn't dislodge itself from the bottom box while you're driving.