Hidden storage for vehicles
OwnerScott Clare, Neil G. Longinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hidden storage is for vehicles such as vans and utility/sports utility vehicles without altering the external appearance of the vehicle. The hidden storage is located adjacent one or both sides of the vehicle between a rearmost side door and the rear of the vehicle. The hidden storage is accessible only via one or more hinged contoured side panel sections of the vehicle and which include at least one peripheral edge, and access to the interior of the vehicle does not provide access to the hidden storage area. The hidden storage is provided by a storage box secured to the side of the vehicle and the interior of the storage box is only accessible through opening of an associated hinged section of the side panel of the vehicle, which can be locked shut.
Claims48
A hidden storage system for a conventional vehicle having contoured fender/side panels each including at least one peripheral edge and which does not substantially alter an external contoured appearance of the vehicle, said storage system comprising:
- at least one storage box having an interior mounted on at least one side of said vehicle;
- at least one section of one of said contoured fender/side panels on at least said one side of said vehicle being hinged and including said one peripheral edge of said one fender/side panel, whereby said at least one section can be opened to expose the interior of said storage box and closed to cover the interior of said storage box;
- at least one latch mechanism mounted so as to be not exposed to an external view of the vehicle, and mounted to releasably secure said at least one hinged section of said one contoured fender/side panel;
- and
- lock means for actuating said at least one latch mechanism.
A hidden storage system for a vehicle having side panels and which does not substantially alter an external appearance of the vehicle, said hidden storage system comprising:
- at least one storage box having an interior mounted on at least one side of said vehicle;
- at least one section of one said side panels on at least said one side of said vehicle being hinged, whereby said at least one section can be opened to expose the interior of said storage box and closed to cover the interior of said storage box;
- at least one hidden latch mechanism mounted to releasably secure said at least one hinged section of said one side panel;
- lock means for actuating said at least one latch mechanism;
- and
- at least one strut assembly operatively connected to retain said at least one hinged section of said one side panel in an open position;
- said at least one strut assembly being provided with means selected from the group consisting of insulating means, heating means, and heating and insulating means.
In a vehicle having contoured side panels, each including at least one peripheral edge, a hidden storage system comprising:
- at least one hinged contoured side panel section including said one peripheral edge of one said contoured side panels, at least one storage box having an interior located adjacent said at least one hinged contoured side panel section, and
- a lock/latch mechanism for said at least one hinged contoured side panel section,
- said hidden storage system being constructed to not substantially alter an external appearance of the contoured side panels of the vehicle.
A vehicle having hidden storage therein;
- said vehicle having an external appearance, and at least a driver's side door, a passenger side door, a pair of side panels, each including at least one peripheral edge, and a rear end section,
- said hidden storage being located in said vehicle intermediate at least one of said side doors and said rear end section,
- said hidden storage comprising:
- a storage box having an interior with an open side located adjacent a section of one of said side panels of said vehicle,
- said side panel section including said at least one peripheral edge of said one side panel, and being hinged to enable exposure of the interior of said storage box, and
- a hidden lock/latch mechanism for said hinged side panel section,
- said hidden storage being constructed and mounted in said vehicle to not substantially alter the external appearance of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.