Abstract:
An improved vehicle mounted storage unit and workbench, comprising a variably configured cabinet, upper lid with workbench surface, mechanisms for varying the cabinet&#39;s working height, slides and wheels for moving the cabinet, mounting brackets to fix the unit to a floor portion of a vehicle. The slides allow the cabinet to slide in and out of the mounting brackets, and contain a quick release feature allowing the unit to be dismounted from them and the vehicle without using tools.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/445,541 filed Feb. 6, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a combination storage and workbench device, and more particularly, to a storage cabinet that can be removably affixed within the bed of a truck or similar vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The cargo carrying area of a pickup truck, van, sport utility or similar vehicle is often referred to as the “bed”. During certain types of transport it is desirable to include a storage container in a vehicle&#39;s bed to retain, for example, tools, equipment, supplies, groceries or other items to which ready and convenient access is necessary or desirable. A bed mounted toolbox represents one such storage container. 
   Many of the prior art bed-mounted toolboxes are inconveniently positioned. For example, the positioning of some toolboxes requires the user to lean over the sides of a truck bed to obtain a complete view of the contents. This design also makes it more difficult for items to be removed from the toolbox. Various configurations of prior-art toolboxes are described herein. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,669 (1984) to Waters, U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,774 (1985) to Whatley and U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,944 (1990) to Waters, each disclose varying configurations of side-mounted toolboxes. The disclosed toolboxes are permanently affixed to the vehicle bed side panels and are also difficult to access and are not automatically closed when the vehicle&#39;s tailgate is up. Side-mounted toolboxes have the additional disadvantage of extending beyond the side panels, effectively eliminating the vehicle&#39;s capability of supporting bed toppers, and frequently adding to the overall width of the vehicle. 
   Another configuration of a side-mounted toolbox enables the toolbox to slide along rails which are affixed to the top or insides of the vehicle&#39;s side panels; however, they too are difficult to access due to their height and the need to reach over the vehicle&#39;s tailgate or vehicle side panels. Similar side-mounted configurations are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,326 (1985) to Tuohy III, U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,992 (1987) to Hamilton et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,377 (1989) to Hughes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,636 (1992) to Barajas, U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,959 (1992) to King, U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,277 (2002) to Wilding, U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,174 (2002) to Lance and U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,230 (20003) to Voves. These devices also have the disadvantage of extending beyond the vehicle&#39;s side panels, thus in most cases effectively eliminating the vehicle&#39;s capability of supporting toppers and frequently adding to the overall width of the vehicle. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,083 (2001) Paulick et al, a set of wheels is mounted to the lower surface of a box which slides on rails mounted on the side panels. The addition of wheels allows the box to move when dismounted from the vehicle, but the aforementioned limitations of sliding systems still apply, and the box is limited in depth, as it must move over the intruding wheel wells. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,722 (1999) to Parri, a sliding toolbox or drawer system is proposed. The primary innovation or Parri is that the mounting rails may be raised or lowered in fixed increments, whilst remaining within the confines of the vehicle bed. This system suffers from the aforementioned limitations of the other full length bed sliding systems, and requires significant effort to reconfigure the adjustable mounting rails. 
   Several other methods for moveable truck mounted toolboxes. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,987 (1995) Sturgis, an external box is affixed to a side panel inside the bed and the internal enclosure rotates out towards the rear of the bed. The disadvantages of this method are limited size, the permanently mounted stationary enclosure, and the difficult access reaching over the tailgate. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,177 (2000) to Tijerina, a toolbox is mounted on rails attached to the inner walls of the side panels that angle up and over the wheel arches. The disadvantages of this method are difficulty in accessing the enclosure, difficulty lifting the enclosure over the wheel arches, and the non-automatic closure of the enclosure in its normal travel position. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,087 (2001) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,629 (2002) both to Lance et al, rear or front floor-mounted enclosures that are removable are proposed. The disadvantages of these proposals are the limited size of the enclosure, limited utility of the enclosure, and in the front mounted case, the difficulty of access. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,976 (2001) to Coleman et al, a side panel mounted sliding and rotating enclosure is proposed. The disadvantages of this proposal are the difficulty is accessing the enclosure and intrusion of the rail system on other bed uses. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,647 (2002) to Voves, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,274 (2002) to Mink et al, sliding systems mounted to the floor of the bed are proposed. The disadvantages of these systems are they prevent using the bed for any other purposes, and the enclosure is not readily portable. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,719 (1999) to Carter Ill., an adjustable size storage enclosure that locks into the vehicle sidewalls is proposed. The primary innovation of this proposal is the ability to resize the internal enclosure by manually sliding the upper surface along brackets and then inserting retaining pins to hold it in place. The disadvantages of this system are its fixed mounting system, and the method of resizing the container. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,215 (1990) to Taylor, a storage device is proposed that fits into a portion of a truck bed and locks into place with a positioning and suction cup apparatus. The storage device can be removed by unlocking it, and it is portable. The disadvantages of this proposal are that it consumes the entire rear bed space, is not readily portable when loaded, and is difficult to access when in place. 
   Combination toolbox and workbenches are also known. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,822 (1983) to Rice, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,703 (1988) to Cimino, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,037 (1998) to Faulhaber, rolling workbench and toolbox combinations are proposed. The disadvantages of these proposals are they are not vehicle-mount ready, they have fixed size configurations, and limited ground clearance is provided. 
   Several methods have been proposed for lifting toolboxes or similar enclosures. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,866 (1999) to Scheibel, a self-loading transporter is proposed. The primary objective of this device is moving, loading, and lifting a container into a vehicle. The disadvantages of this proposal are that it does not provide an anchored and ready access toolbox when in the vehicle, it does not provide workbench capabilities, and it prevents other uses of the bed when loaded. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,973 (2003) to Fritter, a toolbox loading and unloading cart is proposed. The disadvantages of this proposal are that it has a fixed height, it does not provide toolbox or workbench capabilities, and it is not firmly affixed to the vehicle when loaded. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,624 (1990) to West, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,969 (1994) to Simnacher, permanently fixed systems are proposed for hydraulically lifting a toolbox within the confines of a vehicle. The disadvantages of these proposals are the permanence of the hydraulic systems, the difficulty of accessing the contents over the side panels, the limited functionality of the toolboxes, and the general complexity and cost of the hydraulics. In U.S. 2004/0207226 (2004) to Johnson, a truck storage and work surface tailgate is proposed. The unit is fixedly mounted attached to the tailgate, with a powered mechanism for extending and then lowering or raising the entire unit and vertically mounted tailgate to or from the ground. The disadvantages of this system are the space it consumes in the back of the truck bed, its lack of a true workbench surface, and its lack of accessibility while mounted. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 5,9644,492 (1999) to Lyon, a stowage receptacle is proposed for the rear area of a pickup truck bed. This unit mounts on slide rails in the bed, and slides out over the tailgate. The disadvantages of this system are its lack of workbench capabilities, its limited mobility when dismounted, the inability to raise or lower it, and limitation in weight carrying capacity because all of its weight must be supported by the slide rails. 
   All of the vehicle mounted toolbox systems are heretofore known suffer from some combination of the following disadvantages which include not being readily portable after being removed from the vehicle at a destination or jobsite, not readily reconfigurable to the proper height for workbench uses, do not provide workbench capabilities, do not allow for the use of the side panel rails for other normal purposes, do not allow for the use of the main bed for other normal purposes, inconvenient access to the contents of the toolboxes by virtue of mounting position, height, or reach and locking mechanism and subsequently the contents of the toolbox are not protected from tampering when the tailgate is closed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, hereinafter referred to as a “trunk-bench”, the present invention is an improved device for storing objects and providing a workbench. While the way in which such a device can be configured and may be used to address the foregoing disadvantages will be described in greater detail hereinbelow, in general, when engaged within a vehicle bed, the trunk-bench can be moved and removed. 
   In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the trunk-bench is suitably sized in order that it may be mounted to a rear floor portion of a vehicle having juxtaposed vehicle side panels spaced apart by a predetermined first distance, juxtaposed wheel wells each having a portion that extends outwardly from its respective side panel, and a rear vehicle tailgate that is pivotally moveable between a closed position and an open position. The tailgate being spaced from the rear portion of the wheel wells by a predetermined second distance and having a predetermined length of a third distance and a predetermined height approximately equivalent to that of the side panels of a fourth distance. 
   The storage unit comprises a cabinet having a length not greater than the third distance, a depth not greater than the second distance, with no portion of the cabinet extending outside of a space bounded by a vertical plane coinciding with the rear portion of the wheel well, and a second vertical plane coinciding with the interior portion of the tailgate when the tailgate is in its closed position, and a height, in its normal position, not greater than a plane defining the top surfaces of the side panels. 
   The cabinet comprises a pivotally moveable hinged upper surface firmly attached to the rear vertical member of the cabinet that extends laterally beyond the vertical side members of the cabinet with a total length no greater than the third distance, a width no greater than the second distance, and has pneumatic or similar struts to support it in a variety of open positions. 
   The cabinet also comprises a center storage section with a plurality of removable central dividers, pivotally movable doors revealing the interior of the cabinet, and a plurality of drawers disposed in the bottom portion of the cabinet in a side-by-side fashion. Each of the drawers has a predetermined depth that will fit inside the interior of the cabinet and that is less than the second distance, and a width that is not greater than one half the length of the lower section of the cabinet. The cabinet also comprises a plurality of drawer support members that support the drawers so that the drawers can slide back and forth in a direction parallel to the length of the cabinet. 
   Moreover, the cabinet comprises a plurality of variably adjustable height mechanisms and wheel assemblies each comprising at least one cylinder, height adjustment actuator, wheel platform, and guide rods. The cylinders are enclosed and firmly attached at one end to the interior of the cabinet and at the other end to the wheel platform. The cylinders are positioned towards the ends of the cabinet, and move in a vertical direction, perpendicular to the length of the cabinet. The cylinders may have a variable pressure adjustment system to vary the amount of force they can apply when raising or lowering the storage unit. The cylinder actuators are integrated into the cabinet and activate the height adjustment mechanism by depressing a pressure release button mounted in the upper end of each cylinder. 
   The wheel platforms each comprise a horizontal platform that is sized to fit in cutouts in the bottom portion of the cabinet and each has a plurality of fully articulating caster wheels firmly attached to the lower surface of the platform. Each of the wheels may have a locking mechanism to prevent or allow rolling. 
   There is a plurality of guide rods for each wheel platform, firmly attached to the upper surface of the wheel platform, and mounted parallel to the cylinders. Each guide rod slides vertically in and out of a corresponding guide hole in the body of the housing for the cylinder wheel assemblies. 
   The storage unit also has a plurality of retention members, at least one on each side, firmly affixed to the vehicle. The retention members comprise brackets securely attached to the floor of the bed or side panels of the vehicle in the defined space and not to exceed the first, second, or fourth dimensions. The retention members also comprise cabinet support slides that partially support and guide the cabinet and allow the cabinet to move in a direction parallel to the length of the bed between a stored position where no portion extends beyond a vertical plane defined by the interior surface of the tailgate in its closed position, and an extended position when the cabinet is positioned over the extent of the tailgate in its open position. The retention members also comprise a retention belt system. The rolling belt retractor is mounted on one of the retention members and the buckle fastener mounted on the paired retention member. The rolling belt threads through a firmly attached ring mounted on any one or more vertical surfaces of the cabinet. 
   In various embodiments, the invention includes a vehicle mounted trunk-bench that allows for convenient and easy access while mounted in the bed of a vehicle, slides out over the tailgate of said vehicle, is easily detached from said vehicle, functions as a workbench, is easily transportable, functions as a rolling standalone trunk-bench when detached from the vehicle, with a height that can be easily and variably adjusted, is capable of effectively containing significant weight while providing the other noted features, is protected from tampering when the tailgate is closed, includes a safety system to prevent sudden movement of said trunk-bench, easily locks securely into place in said vehicle bed and can be internally reconfigured for multiple functions. 
   The features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which are made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a partial cutaway view from above and in front of the trunk-bench as it would be mounted in the bed of a pickup truck in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the standalone trunk-bench illustrating the configuration and basic inner workings of the truck-bench in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mounting brackets and support slides used to mount an trunk-bench in a vehicle bed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective of an internal cylinder mechanism that is used to raise and lower the trunk-bench in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective detail drawing of the cylinder activating handle mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective detail drawing of the lower locking mechanism that is used to secure the box to the support slides and prevent the lower drawers from being opened in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7A  is an elevation drawing illustrating method for implementing the support slides in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7B  is an orthogonal view of the alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7A ; and, 
       FIG. 8  is an elevation drawing of the front of the trunk-bench showing hinged front opening panels in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the following description of the exemplary embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration the specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized as structural and/or design changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
   A trunk-bench, as used herein, may include any storage unit suitably configured to be placed in the bed of a vehicle. A trunk-bench may comprise, for example, storage bins, cabinets, drawers and the like. Practitioners however, will appreciate that the present invention may also be employed in any number of other applications for which a need exists for storage space. 
   With reference to the appended drawings,  FIGS. 1–8 , it should be noted that these drawings are exemplary in nature wherein like reference numerals designate like parts as referred to in the following preferred embodiments, and which in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 1  is a partial cutaway view from above and in front of an exemplary trunk-bench as it would be mounted in the bed of a pickup truck. The body of the cabinet  14  is constructed of a sturdy material such as a durable plastic, aluminum, light gauge steel and the like. Cabinet  14  is dimensioned to be received within the vehicle side panels  10 , and is attached to mounting brackets  18  on each side using a plurality of heavy duty slides  22  lower, and  24  upper, on each side. Mounting brackets  18  are securely attached to the base of pickup bed  11  that has both vertical side panels  10  and a pivotally hinged tailgate  12 . The drawer slides support cabinet  14  and allow it to slide out over the tailgate  12  while in a lowered position. 
   The lid  16  of cabinet  14  has a top surface that is smooth and flat with etched or marked vertical  44  and horizontal  42  scales. The scales may be used for aligning and measuring various items or materials. Lid  16  also has a plurality of handholds  40 , shown as one on each side, that are used to facilitate moving cabinet  14  while in use. In a preferred embodiment, the upper surface of lid  16  would ideally be constructed of a non-abrasive, dent resistant metal such as, for example, stainless steel. The lid  14  will be discussed in greater detail in reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     FIG. 4  is a perspective of an internal cylinder mechanism that is used to raise and lower the trunk-bench in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The wheel platforms  20  are permanently and securely attached to the cylinder and guide rods mounted inside the trunk-bench. The wheel platforms  20  are raised and lowered by adjusting the position of the actuator arms  54 . They are also attached to a plurality of lockable wheels  62  securely mounted on the outside lower surface of each wheel platform  20 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , wheels  62  extend below the lowest surface of the trunk-bench when cabinet  14  is fully lowered to allow access to a space having a predetermined vertical height for a variety of items. To assist with aligning cabinet  14  on the slider/rails  22 ,  24  as it is being installed, the wheels  62  rest on the surface of the alignment ramps  46 . Alignment ramps  46  may be free standing as shown or pivotally attached by a flat hinge to the base of mounting brackets  18  and fit into or over the pickup bed  11  grooves and extend outward over the tailgate  12 . In an embodiment, the alignment ramps are constructed of a durable and slightly rough substance to provide rolling friction. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mounting brackets and support slides used to mount a trunk-bench in a vehicle bed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. At the rear of cabinet  14  is a retaining belt  32 , similar to a seatbelt, that runs through a retaining D-ring  36  that is securely attached to one or more vertical surfaces of the cabinet  14 . One end of the belt is attached to a belt retractor  38  that is securely mounted on the right side mounting bracket  18 . The other end of the belt has a durable buckle  35  that plugs into the quick release connector  34 . The quick release connector  34  is securely mounted on the left side mounting bracket  18 . 
     FIG. 6  is a perspective detail drawing of the lower locking mechanism that is used to secure the box to the support slides and prevent the lower drawers from being opened in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The entire cabinet  14  can be locked into the slide rails  22  positioned on each side with internally mounted locking rods  28 ,  30  and lock cylinder/shaft  26 . The locking rods  28 ,  30  are actuated by the lock cylinder/shaft  26  in the front of the cabinet  14 . Additionally, the lower drawers  56  can be locked at the same time by the U-rod  108  ends engaging the locking holes  110 . When it is in the locked position, this entire locking mechanism prevents the cabinet  14  from sliding on the slide rails  22  and prevents the drawers  56  opening unintentionally. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the standalone trunk-bench illustrating the configuration and basic inner workings of the truck-bench in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The lid  16  has a hinge  66  that runs the entire length of the cabinet  14  and one or two small struts  48  that keep lid  16  in a variable or fully raised position. Furthermore, lid  16  contains a small compressible gasket  77  of rubber or a similar substance, running along its perimeter that mates with the body of the cabinet  14 . Note also that both ends  68  of lid  16  protrude over the edge of cabinet  14  by a distance sufficient to cover the slide mechanisms and to be used for workbench purposes (for clamping, sawing, drilling, etc.). Lid  16  is latched with a plurality of lockable release handles  64 . Release handles  64  keep lid  16  secure and along with gasket  77  sealed against the elements. Lastly, a center removable panel  58  is shown in place. There may be a plurality of panels  58  that can be removed to make a single long central storage area or moved to vary the size of several smaller storage area. 
     FIG. 2  also shows the motion of the various elements of the trunk-bench. Wheels  62  roll and pivot, and wheel locks  63  pivot to/from locked/unlocked positions. The wheel platforms  20  on both sides slide up and down, driven by the motion of cylinders  50 . Cylinders  50  move up and down respectively by raising or lowering the actuator handles  54 . Drawers  56  slide in and out and lid  16  pivots open and closed along its hinge point  66 . With reference to  FIG. 1 , cabinet  14  slides in and out over the tailgate  12  on the slides/rails  22 ,  24  attached to the mounting brackets  18 , and on the wheels  62  which rest on the alignment ramps  46 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 3 , details of the left mounting bracket  18  are shown. The right mounting bracket is a mirror image of the left mounting bracket  18 , with the exception of the retractable retention belt hardware  34 ,  38 . The mounting brackets are securely mounted to the floor of the pickup bed using heavy duty bolts or may be welded in place. The body of the mounting bracket  18  is made of hard and durable material such as steel and has a plurality of supporting angle brackets  72  for rigidity. At the rear of mounting bracket  18  is a retaining ear  70  that prevents cabinet  14  from moving forward inadvertently or in case of an accident. Retaining ear  70  provides a mounting point for the quick release belt mechanism  34  and the other retaining ear  71  on the opposing mounting bracket  18  provides a mounting point for the belt retractor  38 . Mounting bracket  18  has a number of tie-down holes  74  for general use with ropes or other fastening devices. 
     FIG. 3  also shows one embodiment of the slides. In this instance, upper slide  24  is in its fully retracted position and lower slide  22  is in its fully extended position. Drawer member  23  is the portion of slide  22  that is securely and permanently connected to the side of cabinet  14 . A slide stop  152  prevents overextension of the slide  22 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , when cabinet  14  is in its fully retracted position a lock hole  90  in slide  22  aligns with locking rod  28 . In the locked position, locking rod  28  is fitted through lock hole  90  and into slide mechanism  22 . According to this embodiment, the lower mounting surface  72  of the mounting bracket extends outward toward the bed side surface. In an alternative and preferred embodiment, the lower mounting surface  72  extends inward toward the lateral center of the bed, and provides an extension of alignment ramps ( FIG. 1 ,  46 ). In the alternative implementation, alignment ramps ( FIG. 1 ,  46 ) are attached to the lower surface  72  of each respective mounting bracket  18  by hinges that allow the alignment ramps ( FIG. 1 ,  46 ) to pivotally move from a horizontal position to a vertical position. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the right wheel platform and cylinder assembly  80  is shown mounted in the right side of the cabinet  14 . The left side wheel platform and cylinder assembly  80  is a mirror image of the right side. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the wheel platform  20  is extended approximately midway between the retracted and extended positions. To prevent wheel platform  20  from twisting, guide rods  52  move up and down in the rod guides  53 . Rod guides  53  are vertical holes drilled or formed in the guide mounting blocks  82 ,  84 . Both guide rods  52  and the lower portion of cylinder  50  move vertically in appropriately sized holes through the housing of assembly  80 . Similarly, the locking rod ( FIG. 6 ,  30 ) moves back and forth laterally through the locking rod hole  90  drilled horizontally through the front guide mounting block  82  and the lower support slide ( FIG. 6 ,  22 ). 
     FIG. 5  is a perspective detail drawing of the cylinder activating handle mechanism in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cylinder  50  is permanently and securely affixed to wheel platform ( FIG. 4 ,  20 ) and to the upper support bracket ( FIG. 4 ,  86 ). The actuator arm  54  is raised to depress the cylinder release button  55  and thereby extend, under no load, cylinder  50  or retract it, under a heavy load. Actuator arm  54  mechanism pivots around the orthogonal arm  94 , depresses the cylinder release button  55 , and is securely mounted to the inside of the assembly ( FIG. 4 ,  80 ) using the mounting attachment  92 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 6 , the lower locking mechanism is illustrated which secures cabinet  14  by moving the locking rods  28 , 30  horizontally through the holes  90  in the guide mounting blocks and subsequently through holes  90  in the lower slides  22 . The locking mechanism simultaneously pushes the U-rod  108  and the U-rod ends through the locking holes  110  in the drawer assemblies  56 . This action is accomplished by turning the mechanism of the lock cylinder/shaft  26  clockwise, which moves the lock actuator arm  100 , and the lock cam  102 . When pressure is released by turning the lock cylinder/shaft  26  counterclockwise, the cam  102  is forced up by the cam spring  106  exerting pressure on the U-rod plate  104  and thereby keeping the U-rod and locking rods retracted. 
     FIG. 7A  is an elevation drawing illustrating a method for implementing the support slides in accordance with an alternative embodiment. Two parallel C-channels  120  are securely mounted on the body of cabinet  14  using mounting ears  126 . A set of T-roller wheels  124  rolls in the C-channels  120  and is supported by their shaft and bearing set  130 . The bearing housing  122  is securely affixed to the mounting brackets  18 . Each of the C-channels  120  has a quick release  123 , end-stop  127  and inner/outer channels  125  similar to the slides ( FIG. 2 ,  22 ,  24 ). 
     FIG. 7B  is an orthogonal view of the alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7A . 
     FIG. 8  is an elevation drawing of the front of the trunk-bench showing hinged front opening panels in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The panels  140  have respective hinges  142  along the length of their outside edges. For security purposes, panels  140  may only be opened after lid  16  has been raised. Each panel  140  has friction locks on the lower center edges for positive locking and to assist in weather sealing. 
   The foregoing descriptions of the exemplary embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.