Abstract:
A truck with one or more storage compartments in the bed adjacent the side panels and in which a hinged panel in the side panel or fender allows access to a storage compartment. The side panels maintain the appearance of a conventional pickup truck without storage compartments.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/803,420, filed Mar. 9 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,795, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/426,981, filed Oct. 26, 1999 now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/896,392, filed Jul. 18, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,973, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/685,678, filed Jul. 24, 1996, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/506,893, filed Jul. 26, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,000. 

   Pickup trucks have long been a means for transporting and/or storing tools, materials, etc. for various trades, such as plumbing, electrical, construction, repair, etc. While conventional tool boxes, which generally extend across the pickup bed, are a convenient tool storage approach, such take up a great deal of space and thus reduce the carrying capacity. Also, the conventional pickup beds have been removed and replaced with utility type beds of various types, such as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,773 issued Dec. 7, 1993 to G. Kalis, Jr. et al. In addition, the pickup truck body and/or beds have been modified to provide storage/utility space, such as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,430 issued Apr. 17, 1990 to M. A. Lawrence. 
   While these prior storage/utility arrangements have been satisfactory for their intended purpose, such are an attraction for theft as well as having an appearance of a utility bed. Thus, there has been a need for a storage/utility system for pickup truck beds which does not alter the bed&#39;s external appearance or significantly reduce the interior size of the bed, thereby reducing the tool theft problem while providing space for hidden storage without significant reduction of the bed&#39;s carrying capacity. 
   This need has been filled by the present invention which involves the conversion of a conventional pickup truck bed into a storage/utility bed without altering the external appearance of the bed and without significant reduction in the carrying capacity thereof. This is accomplished by providing storage adjacent the wheel well area, and along the length of the bed, and providing the fender/side panel of the bed with a hinge and latch arrangement whereby the fender/side panel can be raised to expose the storage area, or closed and latched to conceal the storage area. Thus, the pickup can be used for pleasure or work without the appearance of its storage/utility capability, and can be parked in areas where theft would likely occur from conventional tool boxes or utility 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage/utility system for conventional pickup truck beds. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a method for converting a standard pickup truck bed into a storage/utility bed. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a pickup truck bed with storage/utility capability without a significant reduction in the carrying capacity thereof. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a pickup bed with storage/utility capability without altering the external appearance of the bed. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a pickup bed with a hidden storage/utility system wherein the fender/side panel of the bed is hinged to allow access to the storage/utility area. 
   Another object of the invention is to reduce theft potential from a storage/utility bed of pickup trucks, etc. by providing hidden storage/utility areas in the bed without altering the external appearance of the bed. 
   Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. The invention involves a storage/utility system for pickup truck beds that can be installed in any fleet side bed without altering the bed&#39;s appearance. The storage/utility system is installed in the wheel well area of the bed, and uses hinges to open and close the fender/side panel of the bed. The fender/side panel is provided with a latching and lock mechanism. Since the storage/utility system only involves the area of bed adjacent the wheel wells, it does not significantly reduce the carrying capacity of the bed. By providing a hidden storage/utility system for a pickup truck bed, the potential of theft therefrom is substantially reduced since the unaltered appearance of the bed&#39;s external surfaces would not lead one to a realization that it contained tools, etc. 
   Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may therefore be described as storage/utility systems for a bed adapted to be mounted on wheels and having side panels, including a storage box mounted on at least one side of the bed; at least a portion of a side panel on at least one side of the bed being hinged at an upper portion thereof, whereby the hinged portion can be raised to expose an interior of the storage box and lowered to cover the interior of the storage box; and a lock mechanism mounted to releasably secure the side panel. In the described embodiment, the bed preferably includes a pair of wheel wells, and the storage box covers a wheel well and extends forward and/or rearward from the wheel well. 
   A preferred storage/utility system has a storage box with a height less than a height of the bed, and in certain embodiments, a lock and latch mechanism is mounted to the storage box and may include a plurality of latch members adapted to cooperate with latch members secured to the side panel. It is also an aspect of the present disclosure that a storage box may be provided with at least one shelf therein. In certain embodiments, a portion of a side panel extends substantially an entire length of the bed, and the storage system is formed by a pair of vertical cuts in the overall side panel of the bed adjacent ends of the overall side panel, and is constructed such that when the side panel is lowered the storage box is hidden and the appearance of the bed is not altered. 
   In certain embodiments of the disclosure, each side of a bed may be provided with a storage box, a lock and latch mechanism, and a hinged side panel. It is also a preferred embodiment that when each side of a bed includes a storage box, that the storage boxes in the bed are positioned in excess of four (4) feet from each other. Various embodiments of the disclosure would also include the described storage/utility systems in which the beds are mounted over the wheels of a pickup, trailer or truck. 
   In certain embodiments an invention disclosed herein may be described as a method for converting a conventional bed of a vehicle or trailer having wheel wells and side panels into a storage/utility bed without altering the external appearance of the bed. The method would include removing a section of the side panel on at least one side of the bed; hinging the removed side panel section at an upper end thereof to the bed, whereby the side panel section can be raised and lowered; forming storage means along at least one side of the bed so as to cover the wheel wells, whereby raising of the side panel section exposes the interior of the storage means; and providing latching means for side panel section. 
   In the practice of the described method, removing a section of the side panel may be carried out by making a pair of vertical cuts through the side panel and removing any connection to the bed of the side panel along the lower end thereof. The removed side panel may be hinged, and in certain embodiments a full length hinge is used. The method may further include providing a latch by positioning a plurality of latch mechanisms along the bed and along the side panel section, and providing the storage means with a latch release mechanism and a lock may also be provided. In certain embodiments the latching mechanism is formed to include a release mechanism, preferably by positioning the release mechanism at the rear of the storage means, and connecting the plurality of latch mechanisms to the release mechanism. 
   In certain embodiments the described method include providing a storage means, a hinged side panel section, and a latching means on each side of the bed, and positioning the storage means in the bed such that there is a space of about four feet between the storage means, and forming the storage means such that the height thereof is less than the height of the bed. Such methods may further include hinging the side panel section such that the hinge is hidden from a side view of the bed, preparing and painting the storage means and exposed surfaces of the side panel section and adjacent bed surfaces to correspond to the paint of the bed, and/or providing the storage means with internal shelving. 
   Certain embodiments of the invention may also be described as a method for fabricating a storage/utility bed without altering the external appearance thereof, including forming a bed to include a storage box on each side of the bed extending along substantially the length of the bed; forming hinged side panels on the bed such that same can be opened and closed, to expose or cover the storage boxes, and providing latching and lock means for the side panels. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the disclosure, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a view of a side of a pickup truck bed which has been modified to incorporate the storage/utility system under the closed fender/side panel of the bed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of the pickup truck bed of  FIG. 1  showing the left fender/side panel open, the right fender/side panel closed, the tail gate open, and the storage boxes and lock mechanism within the bed. 
       FIG. 3  is a view of an embodiment of the storage/utility system of the  FIG. 1  pickup truck bed with the fender/side panel raised to illustrate the storage bin shelves and latch mechanism. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the  FIG. 1  pickup truck bed illustrating the storage boxes and fender/side panels, with the tail gate closed. 
       FIG. 5  is a view of a pickup truck having a storage compartment in the bed adjacent the side panel. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention involves a storage/utility system for a pickup truck bed and a method for conversion of a conventional pickup truck bed to a storage/utility bed without altering the external appearance of the bed, and without a significant reduction in the carrying capacity of the bed. The present invention reduces the theft potential from storage/utility beds by eliminating the appearance of such beds. The invention utilizes lost space adjacent the wheel wells of the bed while maintaining the space between the wheel wells. As known, the space between the wheel wells of a conventional pickup truck bed is slightly over four (4) feet and the conventional pickup truck beds have a length of eight (8) feet plus, wherein sheets of 8 ft. by 4 ft. material, such as plywood, etc. can be carried between the wheel wells. However, the space in front and back of the wheel well is generally considered lost space for large items until material bas been stacked above the height of the wheel wells. Thus, by utilizing the area in front, back, and above the wheel wells as storage/utility space, the overall storage/carrying capacity of the bed is increased between the outer fender and inner fender of a stock pickup by removing the inner fender. Here, the term storage/utility space is defined as that space in which tools, such as vices, saws, etc. can be stored or mounted for use, and in which shelves can be secured for retaining parts, etc. 
   By the present invention, a conventional pickup truck bed is converted to a storage/utility bed, whereas the conventional installation of storage/utility beds involve the replacement of the conventional bed, thus the cost of conversion compared to the cost of the conventional bed replacement is substantially less. Basically, the conversion involves cutting each fender/side panel (hereinafter called side panel) vertically in two places and along the upper length thereof, on an inner surface of the side panel, as described in detail hereinafter, disconnecting the lower length of the side panels from the bed frame, hinging the side panel along the upper length, providing braces on the side panels, installing a latching mechanism along the lower length of the side panels, providing a key lock for the latching mechanism, installing a storage structure or box over the wheel wells along each side of the bed, securing shelving to the storage box, and painting the cut areas and the storage box to correspond to the color of the bed. Upon completion of the conversion, from a side view, the only difference between the converted bed and a nonconverted bed are two vertical lines or small spaces, one just back of the front of the bed and one just forward of the taillight section of the bed, where the side panel is cut, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The hinge for each side panel is located on an inner area of the side panel so as not to be exposed to one viewing the bed from an external side position. Thus, one would not readily recognize the modification to the bed, and therefore those with intent to steal tools, etc. would not recognize the hidden storage arrangement. 
   Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a conventionally appearing pickup truck generally indicated at  10  having a cab  11 , bed  12 , frame or undercarriage  13 , and wheels  14 . The bed  12  is mounted on frame or undercarriage  13  and includes side panels  15 , a taillight arrangement  16 , a hinged tailgate  17  with stop mechanisms  18 , and wheel wells  19 . However, the bed  12  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  has been modified in accordance with the present invention, with the only indication of such modification being the cuts, small spaces, or lines  20  and  21  in the side panels  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , with the side panel being closed. Note that in this embodiment the side panels  15  terminate adjacent the frame or undercarriage  13 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , the storage/utility area is provided by storage or structure boxes  22  and  23  mounted within the bed  12  and over the wheel wells  19 , the boxes  22  and  23  being constructed to cover the wheel wells  19 , but not extend to the top or upper surface  24  of bed  12 , and terminate in spaced relation to tailgate  17 . A latch mechanism  25  is mounted in the rear of each of boxes  22  and  23 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , and is provided with a key lock  26 . The latch mechanism  25  includes latch members  27  located in spaced relation along the bed  12 , and which cooperate with corresponding latch members  28  in side panel  15 , as show in  FIG. 3 . While not shown, the latch members  27  are interconnected by a rod or cable which is connected to mechanism  25  which includes a release for members  27 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 3 , the side panels  15  are each provided with braces  29  and a hinge  30  that extends the full length thereof. Shelves  31  and  32  are secured to the interior of storage or structure boxes  22  and  23 , and the area forward of the wheel well  19  forms a storage bin  33 . The hinges  30  are located on the interior of the bed  12  and thus not visible from the exterior. 
   It has thus been shown that the present invention provides a hidden storage/utility arrangement that can be initially built into a pickup truck bed, or a conventional bed can be converted to include the storage/utility arrangement without altering the external appearance of the bed and without a significant reduction in the carrying capacity of the bed. While the invention has been described with respect to a pickup bed, it can be readily incorporated into trailer or full-sized truck beds having side panels without detracting from the appearance of the side panels, except for the two vertical cuts therein. 
   While a specific embodiment of the storage/utility system of the present invention has been described and illustrated, such is not intended to limit the invention to this embodiment. For certain applications only one storage box my be desired. Beds for pickups, trailers, and trucks are designed with differently constructed side panels and frame/undercarriage arrangements. For example, the bed  12  of  FIG. 1  may extend downward to cover the frame or undercarriage  13 , as shown, and thus the side panels  15  would include the extended area, or a cut, such as indicated at  34  in  FIG. 2 , can be made along a desired lower portion of the side panels to eliminate the need for raising the entire side panel when the extended area is part thereof. 
   Modifications and changes may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.