Hidden storage for vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle bed having hinged side panel sections which provides side access to the interior of the bed or to a storage system mounted adjacent the hinged side panel sections. The bed additionally is provided with hinged trim panels located below the hinged side panel sections. The vehicle bed may be provided with support structures of a yoke type or a collapsible beam type. The hinged side panel sections may be hinged by piano type or spring-loaded type hinges to open upwardly, downwardly or sideways, and may include a collapsible mechanism for moving a side panel section outwardly and upwardly. The hinged side panel sections are retained in a closed position by either an electrical or mechanical actuated lock/latch mechanism, which is preferably hidden from view, but which may include an exposed key slot or surface flush handle. The storage system includes a box having an opening adjacent the hinged side panel section and the box may include one or more drain/air relief valve assemblies, and be provided with compartments, shelves of a slideable, adjustable or pivotable type, and may include a collapsible support mechanism for a tray, compartment, shelf, etc. The hinged side panel sections may be retained open by means such as one or more strut assemblies or spring-loaded hinges.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a vehicle bed having a floor, a bulkhead, a tail-gate and side panels, the improvement comprising: 
 at least one of said side panels having at least one hinged section therein, and    lock/latch means for said at least one hinged section,    said hinged section being constructed and hinged such that there is substantially no change in an external appearance of the at least one side panel compared to an identical side panel without said hinged section.    
     
     
         2 . The improvement of    claim 2   , wherein said lock/latch means is hidden from an external view of the vehicle bed.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicle bed of    claim 1   , wherein said side panels each include an inner panel and outer panel, and wherein said at least one hinged section includes both the inner and outer panels.  
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of    claim 3   , wherein the inner panel is removed at least in the area of the hinged section, and the outer panel is hinged.  
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of    claim 4   , wherein the hinged section is vertically hinged.  
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of    claim 4   , wherein the hinged section is hinged to enable upward, downward or sideways movement thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The vehicle bed of    claim 1   , additionally including structural support means which at least extend beneath said floor.  
     
     
         8 . The vehicle bed of    claim 7   , wherein said structural support means is composed of a plurality of collapsible support members.  
     
     
         9 . The vehicle bed of    claim 7   , wherein said structural support means comprises a plurality of U-shaped members having sections thereof secured to said side panels.  
     
     
         10 . The vehicle bed of    claim 9   , wherein said sections of said U-shaped members are secured intermediate inner and outer panels of said side panels.  
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of    claim 10   , wherein each of said side panels is provided with a plurality of hinged sections.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle bed of    claim 11   , wherein at least one of said plurality of hinged sections is hinged vertically.  
     
     
         13 . The vehicle bed of    claim 1   , wherein said side panel is provided with trim panels fore and aft of wheel wells therein, and wherein at least one of said trim panels is hinged to provide a storage bin, and is provided with lock/latch means therefor.  
     
     
         14 . The vehicle bed of    claim 13   , wherein each of said trim panels of at least one of said side panels is hinged and provided with lock/latch means.  
     
     
         15 . The vehicle bed of    claim 1   , wherein said at last one hinged section is hinged by at least one spring-loaded hinge mechanism.  
     
     
         16 . The vehicle bed of    claim 1   , wherein said at least one hinged section is hinged by a collapsible mechanism constructed to allow said hinged section to be moved outwardly and upwardly with respect to said side panel.  
     
     
         17 . The vehicle bed of    claim 1   , wherein said lock/latch means includes at least an exposed key slot in said hinged section.  
     
     
         18 . The vehicle bed of    claim 1   , additionally including a storage system located in said bed and adjacent at least said hinged section of at least said one side panel, said storage system including a box having an opening therein located at least adjacent said hinged section.  
     
     
         19 . The vehicle bed of    claim 18   , wherein said box is provided with at least one drain/air valve assembly in a bottom section thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The vehicle bed of    claim 18   , wherein said box is provided with shelving therein selected from the group of fixed shelves, adjustable shelves, slideable shelves, and pivotable shelves.  
     
     
         21 . The vehicle bed of    claim 18   , wherein said box is provided with at least one shelf and at least one compartment.  
     
     
         22 . The vehicle bed of    claim 18   , wherein said box is provided with a movable/collapsible support means for a shelf, tray or compartment.  
     
     
         23 . In a vehicle bed having a floor, a bulkhead, a tail-gate, and side panel assemblies, the improvement comprising: 
 said side panel assemblies comprising modules mounted to said vehicle bed, and at least one of said side panel assemblies, including a storage box having an opening therein, a wheel well, and a contoured panel covering said opening of said storage box and having at least one hinged section therein which when moved outwardly uncovers at least a portion of said opening in said storage box.    
     
     
         24 . The improvement of    claim 23   , wherein said at least one hinged section of said contoured side panel is selected from the group consisting of a hinged section which extends the entire length of said contoured side panel, a hinged section which extends only a portion of the entire length of said contoured side panel, a hinged section which includes a tail-light section of said vehicle bed, a hinged section which is hinged horizontally and can open either upwardly or downwardly, and a hinged section which is hinged vertically and can open sideways.  
     
     
         26 . The improvement of    claim 25   , additionally including a slideable assembly mounted in said contoured side panel, an exterior of said slideable assembly conforming to an exterior of said contoured side panel.