MXPA98000682A - Storage system / utility, hidden and my manufacturing methods - Google Patents

Abstract

A concealed storage / utility or general use system is incorporated in a box (12), which includes hollows (19) of the wheels and panels (15) of a fender / sides of a truck (10) without altering the external appearance from the box to reduce the attraction to thieves. The storage system includes storage boxes (22, 23) that are located adjacent to the hollow (19) of the wheel, the fender / side panels (15) as outer panels of the storage boxes (22, 23), and hinges (30) for opening and closing the fender / side panels (15) on the storage boxes (22, 23). The storage boxes (22, 23) do not extend inwardly beyond the holes (19) of the wheels, and do not extend upwards beyond the upper surface (24) of the box (12). An initial manufacturing method incorporates the hidden storage / utility system in the box during the manufacture of the truck (10). A conversion method for an existing box (12) in an existing pickup truck (10) cuts the existing fender / side panels (15) from the existing box (12) and reattaches them with the hinges (30) to form the outer panels of storage boxes (22, 23)

Description

AMGECEDBMTBS OF IA m EMcr? W The present invention relates to vans, particularly with boxes or storage / utilitarian platforms for vans, and more particularly with a storage / utilization conversion or assembly method to provide the same in a conventional van package without altering the appearance external of the box. For a long time, vans have been a means of transporting and / or storing tools, materials, etc. of various businesses, such as plumbing, electrical, construction, repair, and so on. Although conventional tool boxes, which usually extend through the truck bed are a convenient way to store tools, they require a large amount of space and therefore reduce the carrying capacity. In addition, conventional truck bodies have been removed and replaced with utility type boxes of various types, such as that exemplified by U.S. Patent No. 5,267,773, issued on May 7.

REF: 26713 of December of 1993, for G. Kalis, Jr., et al. In addition, the body of the truck and / or boxes have been modified to provide storage / utilitarian space, as exemplified by U.S. Patent No. 4,917,430, issued April 17, 1990 to M.A. Lawrence. Although previous storage / utilitarian systems have been satisfactory for their intended purpose, they are an element of attraction for thieves and have the appearance of a utility box. Therefore, there has been a need for a storage / utility system for truck cases which does not alter the outer appearance of the box or significantly reduce the internal size of the box, thereby reducing the problem of theft of tools and at the same time provides space for concealed storage without significant reduction in the carrying capacity of the box. This need has been satisfied by the present invention which involves the conversion or assembly of a conventional truck box in a storage / utilitarian box without altering the external appearance of the box and without significant reduction in the carrying capacity thereof. This is accomplished by providing storage adjacent to the wheel hollow area, and along the length of the box, and providing a splash / side panel of the box with a hinge and bolt arrangement so the panel Fender / side can be raised to expose the storage area, or it can be closed and secured to conceal the storage area. Therefore, the truck can be used for fun or for work without altering the appearance of its storage / utilitarian capacity and can be parked in areas where thieves usually appear in search of conventional tool boxes or utility boxes.

BRIEF DESatlPCl? W DB IA HWEMCIQN An object of the present invention is to provide a concealed storage / utility system for a box, such as a conventional truck box, without altering the outer appearance of the box. A further object of the invention is to provide a method for converting a standard truck box into a hidden storage / utility box. A further object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a box with a hidden storage / utilitarian system therein. A further objective of the invention is to provide a truck box with storage / utilization capacity without a significant reduction in the carrying capacity of the same. Another object of the invention is to provide a truck box with storage / utilitarian capacity without altering the outer appearance of the box. Another object of the invention is to provide a truck box with a concealed storage / utility system in which the fender / side panel of the box has hinges to allow access to the storage / utilitarian area. Another object of the invention is to reduce the potential for theft of the storage / utility box of the vans, by providing hidden areas of storage and utilities in the box, without altering the external appearance of the box. Another object of the invention is to provide a standard box, such as a truck box, with a hidden storage / utility system by converting an existing box or by incorporating the system during the manufacture of the box. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. The invention involves a hidden storage / utilitarian system for boxes, such as boxes of truck, which can be installed in any box with side sliding or curved side, without altering the appearance of the box \ The storage / utilitarian system is scaled in the hollow area of the wheel of the box, and uses hinges to open and close the splash / side panel of the box. It is provided to the fender / side panel with a bolt and lock mechanism. Since the storage / utilization system only involves the area of the box adjacent to the wheel wells, it does not significantly reduce the carrying capacity of the box. By providing a hidden storage / utility system for a truck bed, the potential for theft of the truck is substantially reduced since the appearance without alteration of the outer surfaces of the box does not allow to realize that it contains tools, etc. The hidden storage / utility system can be manufactured initially in the box, such as an assembly line, or existing boxes can be converted to include the system.

BRIEF DESC-RIPCIÓ DB TJQ3 DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated to form part of the description, illustrate one embodiment of the hidden storage / utilitarian system and manufacturing methods for producing the system and, together with the description, serve to explain the purposes of the invention. - Figure 1 is a view of one side of the box or platform of a truck which has been modified to incorporate the storage / utility system under the closed fender / side panel of the box, according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the truck box of Fig. 1 showing the left splash / side panel open, the fender panel / right side closed, the rear door open and the storage boxes and the mechanism lock inside the box. Figure 3 is a view of one embodiment of the storage / utilization system of the truck body of Figure 1 with the despalled / side panel raised to illustrate the storage tank shelves and the bolt mechanism. Figure 4 is a top view of the truck box of Figure 1 illustrating the storage boxes and the fender / side panels with the rear door closed. Figure 5 is an exploded view of the box of a pickup truck on the sliding side or the upright side of a light duty truck incorporating the hidden storage / utility system. Figure 6 is an exploded view of the curved side of a light truck box incorporating the hidden storage / utility system. nrarPTP mw FROM ATTA? A? B TA TUVEHCTÓN The present invention involves the manufacture of a concealed storage / utility system for a hidden truck box, for example, and involves a method for manufacturing a box to include the hidden system or for converting a conventional truck box to a Hidden storage / utilitarian box without altering the external appearance of the box, and without a significant reduction in the carrying capacity of the box. Although the invention is illustrated and described for the sliding side and curved side versions of a truck box, it can be installed, either by initial assembly or by conversion in any type of box that has available space. The present invention reduces the theft potential of storage / utilization boxes by eliminating the appearance of such boxes. The invention uses unused space adjacent to the wheel holes of the box and at the same time maintains the space between the holes of the wheel. As is known, the space between the wheel holes of a conventional truck box is slightly above 1.2 m (4 feet) and the conventional truck bodies have a length of 2.4 m (8 feet) or more, in where material sheets of 1.2 by 2.4 m (8 feet by 4 feet) such as wood, etc., can be placed between the holes of the wheel. However, the space between the front and rear of the wheel wells is generally considered unused space for large items until the material has been stacked above the height of the wheel holes. Therefore, by utilizing the area at the front, rear and top of the wheel wells as a concealed storage / utility space, the total storage / transport capacity of the box between the outer fender and the fender is increased. interior of a standard truck when removing the interior fender. Here, the term storage / utility space is defined as the space in which tools such as hydraulic dams, saws, parts, etc., can be stored or assembled for use, which can be stored or assembled for use, and in which can be fixed the shelves to retain the tools or parts, etc. By means of the present invention, a conventional truck box is initially manufactured or converted to a storage / utility box, while the "conventional storage / utility box installation involves the replacement of the conventional box, and therefore the cost of conversion compared to the cost of conventional box replacement is substantially lower Basically, the conversion involves cutting each fender / side panel (hereinafter referred to as the side panel) vertically in two places and along the upper length thereof , on the inner surface of the side panel, as described in detail in the following, disconnect the bottom length of the side panels from the box frame, place hinges of the side panel along the top length, provide braces or clamps in the side panels, install a bolt mechanism along the bottom length of the side panels, provide a lock with key for the bolt mechanism, install a storage structure or box over the wheel wells along each side of the box, secure the shelves to the storage box, and paint the areas cut and the storage box to match the color of the box. When completing the conversion, from a side view, the only difference between the converted box and an unconverted box are two vertical lines or small spaces, one just behind the front of the box and another just ahead of the section rear of the box, where the side panel has been cut, as shown in figure 1. The hinge or articulation for each side panel is located in an interior area of the side panel, so that it is not exposed to the observation of the box from an external lateral position. Therefore, the modification to the box will not usually be easily recognized and therefore those who try to steal tools, etc., will not recognize the hidden storage arrangement. The hidden storage / utilitarian system can be initially manufactured in the box, for example in an assembly line arrangement, in which the various parts are initially manufactured and then assembled and painted as the box passes from one station to another. along an assembly line, as described in more detail in the following. Now, with reference to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a conventional appearance truck indicated generally with the number 10 having a cabin 11, a box 12, a frame or chassis 13 and wheels 14. The box 12 is mounted on the frame or chassis 13 and includes side panels 15, a rear light array 16, a hinged rear door 17, with retaining mechanisms 13 and wheel recesses 19. However, the box 12 of figures 1 and 2 has been modified in accordance with the present invention, with the only indication of such modification constituted by the cuts, small spaces or lines 20 and 21 in the side panels 15, as shown in figure 1, with the side panel closed. Note that in this embodiment, the side panels 15 end adjacent to the frame or chassis 13. As seen in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the hidden storage / utilitarian area is provided by the storage boxes or structure 22 and 23 that are mounted inside the box 12 and over the hollow 19 of the wheels, the boxes 22 and 23 are constructed to cover the holes 19 of the wheels, but do not extend to the upper part or surface 24 of the box 12, and they end in a separate relationship with respect to the rear door 17. A bolt mechanism 25 is mounted on the rear of each of the boxes 22 and 23, as seen in Figure 2, and is provided with a key 26. The bolt mechanism 25 includes located bolt members 27 in separate relationship along the case 12, and which cooperate with the corresponding bolt members 28 in the side panel 15, as shown in Figure 3. Although not shown, the bolt members 27 are interconnected by a rod or wire which is connected to mechanism 25, which includes a release of members 27.

As seen in Figure 3, the side panels 15 are each provided with frames 29 and a hinge 30 extending the entire length thereof. The shelves 31 and 32 are fixed to the interior of the storage or structure boxes 22 and 23, and the front area of the hole 19 of the wheel forms a storage tank 33. The hinges 30 are located inside the box 12 and therefore are not visible from the outside. Figure 5 illustrates the exploded view of a modality of a sliding side version or side of. stile of the box of a light duty truck that incorporates the hidden storage / utilitarian system, and which can initially be manufactured as a unit, or which can be formed by converting an existing box. The process or method of initial manufacture and the process or method of conversion are described in detail in the following. As shown in Figure 5, the hidden storage / utilitarian system comprises side panel assemblies 41 for a short or long box, wheel well panels 42, storage housing assemblies 43 for a short or long box, a front panel 44, a floor panel 45, for a short or long box, a stringer 46 on the floor, a door panel assembly 47, door panel hinges 48, gas-loaded bumpers 49 on the panels of the door, a rear door assembly 50, a storage box handle, lock and lock assembly 51, storage rack mounts 52, lock and door panel latch 53, rear door actuator 54, hinge 55 outside of the rear door, bolt and rear door wire assembly, rear door hinge 57, rear door bolt 58, rear door handle 59, rear door bevel handle 60, one opening 61 d wheel, a side panel cover 62, and a panel door seal 63. Although only one part or component is shown for simplicity in certain cases, there is a corresponding component on the opposite side, which is not shown. As shown in Figure 6, the hidden storage / utility system can be incorporated in a curved-sided version of a light duty truck box, and comprises side panels 71 for long or short boxes, fenders 72, of which only one, assembly 73 of panel storage box, front panel 74, floor panel 75, for long or short boxes, a floor stringer 76, door panel assembly 77, concealed door hinges 78, shock absorbers are shown. 79 charged with gas, rear door assembly 80, bolt assembly 81, lock and cable, fender brackets 82, lock and latch assemblies 83 of the door panel, rear door actuator 84, exterior door hinge 85 rear, latch assembly 86 and tailgate cable, inner hinge 87, bolt rods 88, rear door handle 89, bevel handle 90, wheel openings 91, rear fender frame 92, frame 93 front to fender, front and rear step 94 pads, and a door panel mounting gasket 95. Although certain parts are shown only for simplicity; the corresponding parts not shown are used on the opposite side of the box. The invention involves a method for carrying out the initial manufacture of a box, for trucks for example which incorporates the hidden storage / utility system, as well as a method to carry out the conversion of a conventional truck box, for example , to incorporate the hidden storage / utilitarian system. In any case, the hidden storage / utility system is incorporated substantially with no change in the appearance of the outer splash / side panel of the box. The conversion method can be used to allow modified boxes or existing undamaged boxes to be modified to include the hidden storage / utilitarian system. In the case of damaged boxes, new fender / side panels and concealed storage assembly components are prefabricated in a template system platform assembly similar to the initial fabrication method described in the following, but without the box panel, the front panel and the mounting assemblies. back door, as illustrated in any of the figures or 6. These prefabricated hidden storage system components are available for 1.8m (6ft), 2.1m (7ft) and 2.4m truck bed lengths (8 feet), as they are made for any light duty truck.

Conversion of the ac to existing: 1. The spare tire is required under the box for safety. The fuel tank pump is disconnected from the outer side panel cover. CAUTION? Do not use a torch cutter or grinder or cutter where sparks could ignite the fuel in, around or near the fuel tanks. Secure fuel tanks to prevent fires BEFORE starting to cut. 2. Unscrew the existing chassis box and disconnect the wiring harness connections. The assemblies of the taillights are removed. SEE PREVIOUS PRECAUTION: Cut the right and left panels along the longitudinal axis of the box panel and at the prescribed limit on the back of the box panel. The loose vertical union of the front panel / side panel is cut. The last 15 centimeters (6 inches) of the box panel adjacent to the dividing screen of the rear door are retained. This portion of the box panel is used in the final construction of the box. 3. A level workstation is established for the salvaged box panel, the front panel, the rear door and the dividing screen mounting panels. The box must be level "along all the axes, the front panel and the dividing screen assembly of the rear door are plumbed in. The parts are secured with templates to the work station with transverse rods and supports to avoid dislocation during the retrofit assembly 4. The new side panel and storage panel assembly with a rudder wheelhouse are installed on the box panel and on the front and rear door partition, level and poise are checked in the placement, the components are securely held in position, welding position pins are installed and the storage system hidden in position is glued with solder (do not start a complete weld at this time). the identical installation on the opposite side of the box, all the joint welds are checked, the level and poise and the free spaces inside the box and the tolerances are verified to both hidden storage system panels. 6. Door panels are installed. Hidden storage to the hinge assemblies (if the doors have been removed after shipment) and the shape and fit is checked. If an adjustment is required, the door is not forced. The adjustment position of the hinges and the margin of the doors without joints are verified. Partial joints are provided for installation in the annular space in pre-marked positions around the door to simulate the margin adjustment without the complete installation of the joints. 7. When all margins are verified, the new hidden storage panel assembly is welded in points to the box panel along with the welding clips provided. After the points are welded, the tolerances of the box, the level and the poise are checked again. Welding is completed, heat distortion is sought in the components of the box. The maintenance of quality assurance conditions through the conversion of the box conversion will ensure a precise and quality final product. 8. Light weld wastes are removed and any solder that is not small, as required, is ground with a wheel. The form, the fit and the finish are verified. 9. The salvaged portion of the truck body is prepared with the Standing Painting Council methods for the automotive industry, areas cleaned with touches of primer and frosted Any rust or loose paint is removed from the box. . Moisture should be avoided. 10. The box is lifted on a platform with rollers and placed in a heated paint booth to volatilize the moisture trapped within the joints of the box. The box is printed while it is heated. The curing of the primer substance is in accordance with the paint manufacturer's instructions. The printed surfaces inside and outside are checked. Any imperfection by grinding is eliminated. The thicknesses are verified to thousandths of an inch of the size to comply with the specifications. 11. All seams and caulking are caulked with the specified polymer. The caulking is allowed to last in the paint booth. We proceed with the application of final finishing paint. The quality of the finish is verified. It is verified that the finish heals. The finish can be accelerated with ultraviolet lamps, according to the manufacturer's instructions. 12. Inner shelves and shelves are installed in hidden storage enclosures. Gas shock absorbers, lock locks, actuators, cable lock assemblies are installed. The annular door openings are surrounded by the specified packing material. Drain check valves are installed in the storage compartments in the front and rear. The form and adjustment is verified. The door must close and be fixed without flogging it. 13. The truck box is reinstalled in the chassis of the truck. The truck must be on a level platform at the time of reinstallation of the box. The tire wear and the final level check are verified. 14. It adjusts to level, as required. Do not install an excess of level correction materials. The box is bolted to the bolting torque points specified by the manufacturer. 15. The spare tire is reinstalled, when required. The rear light assemblies and reflectors are reinstalled, and the wiring harnesses are connected. The operation of the taillights, direction indicator lights and brake lights is verified. It is verified that the neck and the lid of the tube for loading the fuel tank have been safely attached to the side panel. The joints around the filling tube are checked.

Original equipment manufacturer (QEM) assembly sequence: 1. Production and manufacturing assembly of the hidden storage system begins in the forming and molding manufacturing section. This is carried out by means of a metal die-forming sheet in the components of the truck's box in hydraulic presses with attached dies, brakes and cuts. 2. The manufacturer of hidden storage system components can also be realized through the use of SCM materials (structural modified compounds) in molded goods or sheets. 3. The sheet-forming metal of the rolled or flat stack (with a thin coating of forming oil) is supplied to a shearing and sizing die or a forming die, if the material is pre-cut. The process continues through the dimensioning and subsequent forming die which progressively shapes the side panels for the front end, the floor, the wheelhouse, the exterior and the interior of the doors and the rear door. The reinforcements, the dividing screen, the fasteners and the components of shelves are manufactured in a similar way to the standards in industrial techniques. The metal structural components in the box are not replaced with SMC material. 4. All metal components or components manufactured with SMC are placed in an inventory system for final assembly. This manufacturing assembly procedure uses JIT parts system (just in time). 5. The final assembly of the components manufactured and offered to the seller begins with the supply parts in a conveyor system of the main automated assembly line with a computer through a conveyor system. The supply is automated joined to a computer. The parts are supplied as required and controlled by a computer sequence operation. 6. The basic structural components of the box are transported to a robotic welded platform system of automatic point-fitting template which places and fixes the components of the floor panel box, front end panel, storage box panels interior, rudder wheelhouse panel and rear door partition screen in an accurate tolerance weld by utilizing the state of the art of robotic welding machines and associated platform positioning equipment. 7. Robotic welding machines retract the template system reverse the observation of the closure of the welded box components l? which allows the conveyor chain to lift the box into the following assembly sequence of pre-assembled rear door bolt assembly and the outer storage door panel concealed within the assembly which is held in place by means of special wire seals for open properly the doors and the back door for the application of the primer and final painting systems. 8. The assembled box advances to a highly illuminated cabinet to allow visual inspection of Q &A (quality and belaying) for the cabinet, grinding correction ~ and imperfections removal prior to application of the primer layer. A special polishing is also carried out at this stage in areas of tension in the upper portion of the inner corners of the dividing partition of the rear door. 9. After leaving the surface inspection and correction station, the box advances through a cabinet of surface conditioning of box paint by sprinkling deionized water and continues to be transported to a bath of primer by immersion. The welded box is subjected to priming by means of an immersion bath system. The box enters and leaves the primer bath in inclined positions to allow the trapped primer material to quickly drain from the box and the storage compartment areas. Strategic drip holes are provided to allow excess primer material to drain from trapped areas. 10. Priming is carried out by transporting the box through a heated tunnel drying cabinet until the temperature reaches approximately 172-175 ° C (345-350 ° F) for the specified recommended time by the paint manufacturer as sufficient to cure the protective coating of metal primer. Subsequently, the box moves along the conveyor which allows the box to cool down. The box continues to advance to a second inspection station where the box is highly illuminated by means of a lighting system along the walls and ceilings of the ceiling to allow visual inspection of the imperfections of the primer coating. 11. The next station is used to carry out the surface imperfections of any surface defect manually, and to correct by manual sprinkling the areas that require correction or any minor defect found on the surface of the surface. paint film. The quick paint curing of the retouched areas is accelerated by using an ultraviolet lamp which travels with the box transported for approximately 8 minutes. 12. The caulking is then strategically applied on the box's manufacturing seams by means of a manual caulking gun with controlled pressure feeding in a precisely controlled manner, which forms a regular caulking bed for aesthetic reasons and prevents between moisture in the joints of the box to inhibit the formation of hidden rust. 13. After the visual inspection drying cabinet sequence, the box continues to the final color paint booth. The color paint is preselected and applied automatically by means of a robotic turbo head paint applicator on the box. The box is negatively charged and the paint is positively charged. The paint precipitates on the components of the box electrostatically. 14. A paint application of thickness to the thousandth of an inch, if it is obtained by means of control of the term of application, the fluid becomes more fluid and increases the speed of the robot. Within the corners will require the application of paint in small touches with a hand gun to obtain the thickness specified in thousandths of an inch when there are discrete electrostatic differences in precipitation due to the inherent physics of the application of automatic electrostatic painting. 15. The drying and curing of the painting of the box will then be done by means of an oven in a tunnel which lasts the temperature and time of curing for the final paint coating. The heat is increased to a maximum of 172 ° C (345 ° F) and slowly cooled as it advances to the final visual inspection station. 16. The final visual quality assurance inspection is designed by means of a high illumination cabin. The units with superficial imperfections in the painting of the line are removed and repaired individually and manually with standard painting cancellation techniques with coating, as required. The curing of the coating paint is accelerated with an ultraviolet paint lamp applied to the coated surface for approximately 8-10 minutes. 17. The box continues along the assembly line conveyor to the final assembly component stages where the back door and concealed storage door tools, including actuators, locks, handles, cables, assemblies hidden bolt, specialized door and perimeter gaskets, storage compartment drainage check valves, wiring harnesses, backlight mounts, shelf placement, shelf fasteners, shelf lining and manufacturing decals are installed or applied manually . 18. A final quality assurance inspection is made regarding the shape, fit and function as the box leaves the assembly line. A special PVC plastic film is placed over areas of the box subject to transportation damage, and the gas inlet is covered to prevent it from being opened by air pressure. 19. The finished box is lifted by means of a fork and placed on a special shelf designed for different truck models and sent by a towing trailer to large-scale dealers. Therefore, it has been shown that the present invention provides a concealed storage / utility arrangement that can be initially constructed in a truck box, or a conventional box can be converted to include the storage / utility arrangement without altering the external appearance of the box and without a significant reduction in the transport capacity of the box. Although the invention has been described with respect to truck-side sliding or curved-side boxes, it can be easily incorporated into other types of truck beds, tugs or full-size boxes having side panels without altering the appearance of the side panels. , except for the two vertical cuts in them. In addition, the concealed fender / side panel can be hinged along the entire length so that the entire side panel, including the taillight section, can be raised and lowered to eliminate vertical cutting lines. Although a specific embodiment of the storage / utilitarian system of the present invention has been described and illustrated., the invention is not considered to be limited to this modality. For certain applications, only one storage box can be desired. Boxes for trucks, trailers and cargo trucks are designed with side panels constructed differently and with frame / chassis arrangements. For example, the box 12 of Figure 1 can be extended downwardly to cover the frame or chassis 13, as shown, and therefore the side panels 15 can include the extended area or a cut, as indicated by the number 34 in figure 3, which can be made along a desired lower portion of the side panels to eliminate the need to lift the entire side panel when the extended area is part thereof. The modifications and changes may become apparent to those familiar with the art, and it is considered that the scope of the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (19)

RfilVINDICACIQNES

1. A storage / utilitarian system for a box for being mounted on wheels and having splash / side panels, characterized in that it comprises: a storage box having an interior mounted on at least one side of the box; at least a portion of a fender / side panel on at least one side of the box is hinged on the upper portion thereof, whereby it can be lifted to expose the interior of the storage box and can be lower to cover the inside of the storage box; lock and bolt mechanisms mounted to releasably secure. the splash / side panel.

2. The storage / utilization system according to claim 1, characterized in that the box includes a pair of holes in the wheel, and in which the storage box covers the holes of the wheel and extends forwards and backwards of the same

3. The storage / utilitarian system according to claim 2, characterized in that the storage box has a height less than the height of the box.

4. The storage / utility system according to claim 3, characterized in that the lock and latch mechanism is mounted to the storage box and includes a plurality of bolt members adapted to cooperate with bolt members secured to the fender / side panel.

5. The storage / utilitarian system according to claim 4, characterized in that the storage box is provided with at least one shelf therein.

6. The storage / utility system according to claim 5, characterized in that each side of the box is provided with a storage box having an interior, a lock and bolt mechanism and an articulated hinge / side panel.

7. A method for converting a conventional box of a vehicle or a trailer having hollows for the wheels and side panels, into a storage / utility box without altering the external appearance of the box, - the method is characterized in that it comprises: removing a section from the side panel on at least one side of the box; articulating or hinging the side panel section detached at the upper end thereof to the box, whereby the side panel section can be raised and lowered; forming a storage means along at least one side of the box so as to cover the holes of the wheels, whereby upon lifting the side panel section the interior of the storage means is exposed; and providing bolt means for the side panel section.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the removal of a section of the side panel is carried out by making a pair of vertical cuts through the side panel and removing any connection from the side panel box along the end bottom of it.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the articulation of the withdrawn side panel section is carried out using a full length hinge.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the provision of bolt means is accomplished by placing a plurality of bolt mechanisms along the housing and along the side panel section, and providing a storage means. with a bolt release mechanism.

11. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that it additionally includes providing a bolt means with a lock means.

12. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the bolt means is formed to include a release mechanism, to place the release mechanism in the rear part of the storage means, and to place the plurality of bolt mechanism to the release mechanism. .

13. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that each side of the box is provided with storage means, an articulated side panel section and a bolt means, and that additionally includes placing the storage means in the box so that it has a space of more than 1.2 meters (4 feet) between them, and that the storage medium is formed so that the height thereof is less than the height of the box.

14. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the articulation of the side panel section is carried out so that the hinge is hidden from the side view of the box.

15. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that it additionally includes preparing and painting the storage medium and exposing the end surfaces of the side panel section and the adjacent box surfaces to correspond to the painting of the box .

16. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that it additionally provides the storage medium with internal shelves.

17. A method for manufacturing a storage / utilitarian box without altering the external appearance of the same, the method is characterized in that it comprises: assembling the components to form a box having side panels with at least one storage box extending as far as possible. length of substantially the length of the box, articulating at least one side panel of the box so that the side panel can be raised and lowered to expose or cover the interior of the storage box.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that it additionally includes prefabricating the components used to form the box.

19. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the assembly of the box with at least one storage box and the articulation of at least one side panel of the box are carried out in the assembly line. A concealed storage / utility or general use system is incorporated in a box (12), which includes hollows (19) of the wheels and panels (15) of a fender / sides of a truck (10) without altering the external appearance from the box to reduce the attraction to thieves. The storage system includes storage boxes (22, 23) that are located adjacent to the hollow (19) of the wheel, the fender / side panels (15) as outer panels of the storage boxes (22, 23), and hinges (30) for opening and closing the fender / side panels (15) on the storage boxes (22, 23). The storage boxes (22, 23) do not extend inward beyond the recesses (19) of the wheels, and do not extend upwards beyond the upper surface (24) of the box (12). An initial manufacturing method incorporates the hidden storage / utility system in the box during the manufacture of the truck (10). A conversion method for a box (12) existing in an existing truck (10) cuts the panels (15) of fender / sides of the existing box (12) and reattaches them with the hinges (30) to form the panels outside of the storage boxes (22, 23).