U.S. patent application number 09/915821 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-17 for truck lid hinge and opener system.
Invention is credited to Brorson, Lon N., Young, David C..
Application Number | 20020005651 09/915821 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24454859 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020005651 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Young, David C. ; et
al. |
January 17, 2002 |
Truck lid hinge and opener system
Abstract
A truck lid hinge and opener system for removably connecting a
lid or cover to the bed of a truck wherein the bed includes a
vertical front wall, first and second vertical side walls extending
rearwardly from the front wall, and a tailgate at the rearward end
of the bed with the side walls having downwardly extending flanges
at the upper end thereof. A pair of hinge units removably hingedly
connect the forward end of the lid to the truck bed. A pair of like
opener mechanisms pivotally interconnect the sides of the lid to
the side walls of the truck bed. Each of the open mechanisms
includes a gas spring which is adjustably mounted to compensate for
varying temperature conditions. The hinge units and opener
mechanisms are clamped onto the truck bed to avoid drilling holes
in the truck bed.
Inventors: |
Young, David C.; (Thompson,
ND) ; Brorson, Lon N.; (Grand Forks, ND) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ZARLEY MCKEE THOMTE VOORHEES & SEASE PLC
SUITE 3200
801 GRAND AVENUE
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2721
US
|
Family ID: |
24454859 |
Appl. No.: |
09/915821 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09915821 |
Jul 26, 2001 |
|
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09612845 |
Jul 10, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
296/100.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J 7/1621
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/100.1 |
International
Class: |
B60P 007/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A hinge system for removably connecting a lid having a forward
end, a rearward end, and opposite sides, to the bed of a truck,
such bed including a vertical front wall, first and second vertical
side walls extending rearwardly from the front wall, and a tailgate
at the rearward end of the bed, the side walls having downwardly
extending flanges at the upper inner end thereof, the hinge system
including a pair of like hinge units, each such unit comprising: a
mounting plate, having rearward and forward ends, secured to one of
the truck bed vertical flanges adjacent the forward end thereof;
said mounting plate including a first hinge plate portion having a
forward end which is positioned forwardly of the vertical front
wall; said forward end of said first hinge plate portion having an
opening formed therein; a second hinge plate portion secured to the
lid at the forward end thereof which has a connector element
extending therefrom which is removably hingedly received by the
opening in said forward end of said first hinge plate portion to
hingedly connect the lid to the truck bed.
2. The hinge system of claim 1 wherein said opening in said first
hinge plate portion comprises an elongated slot which is
substantially parallel to the vertical front wall and wherein said
connector element comprises an angular tab.
3. The hinge system of claim 1 wherein said mounting plate is
clamped to the vertical flange.
4. The hinge system of claim 1 wherein said first hinge plate
portion includes a vertically disposed portion which is positioned
adjacent the upper forward end of the vertical front wall and a
horizontally disposed portion which is positioned on the upper end
of the vertical front wall.
5. The hinge system of claim 4 wherein said mounting plate is
vertically disposed adjacent the truck bed vertical flange, said
first hinge plate portion being disposed adjacent said vertical
front wall, and wherein a brace is secured to and extends between
said mounting plate and said first hinge plate portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional application of Petitioners' earlier
application Ser. No. 09/612,845 filed Jul. 10, 2000, entitled "A
TRUCK LID HINGE AND OPENER SYSTEM".
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a truck lid hinge and opener
system and more particularly to a system which places less stress
on the hinges and which automatically raises the lid when the latch
is unlocked.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Many types of lids or covers have been previously provided
for covering the bed of a pickup truck. The lids are normally
hingedly secured to the forward end of the truck bed and in most
cases, the mounting of the hinges requires drilling of holes into
the truck bed. Normally, the lid cannot be quickly and easily
removed from the bed of the truck without disassembling the hinge
connection between the truck bed and the lid. Further, many types
of available lids place undue stress on the hinge connection which
sometimes results in failure thereof. Another drawback to certain
of the available truck lids is that they must be manually raised to
their open position. In some cases, gas springs have been utilized
to assist in raising the truck lids to their open positions, but
temperature conditions have a dramatic affect on the efficiency of
the gas springs. Yet another disadvantage of certain of the prior
art truck lid opening systems is that they do not prevent
"free-fall" of the lid when the lid is being moved from its open
position to its closed position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A truck lid hinge and opener system is disclosed for
removably connecting a lid or cover to the bed of a truck wherein
the bed includes a vertical front wall, first and second vertical
side walls extending rearwardly from the front wall, and a tailgate
at the rearward end of the bed with the side walls having
downwardly extending flanges at the upper end thereof. The hinge
system of the invention includes a pair of like hinge units.
[0007] Each of the hinge units comprises a mounting plate which is
clamped onto one of the truck bed vertical flanges adjacent the
forward end thereof with the mounting plate including a first hinge
plate portion which extends forwardly over the upper end of the
vertical front wall of the truck bed. The first hinge plate portion
has a forward end which is positioned forwardly of the vertical
front wall of the truck bed with the forward end of the first hinge
plate portion having an elongated slot formed therein which is
parallel to the front wall of the bed. A second hinge plate portion
is secured to the lid at the forward end thereof with the second
hinge plate portion having an arcuate connector element extending
therefrom which is removably hingedly received by the slot in the
forward end of the first hinge plate portion to hingedly connect
the lid to the truck bed.
[0008] The opener system comprises an opening mechanism at each
side of the lid rearwardly of the hinge units. Each of the opener
mechanisms comprises a lower arm having its lower end pivotally
connected to a mounting plate which is clamped onto the flange of
one of the side walls of the bed. An upper arm is pivotally
connected at its lower end to the upper end of the lower arm and
has its upper end pivotally connected to a bracket which is secured
to the underside of the lid. A gas spring has its base end
pivotally connected to the upper arm adjacent the upper end thereof
and has its rod end selectively adjustably secured to the lower arm
intermediate the length thereof.
[0009] A locking pawl is rotatably mounted in the lid and has a
lower end positioned below the lid. A pair of spring-loaded locking
rods are rotatably secured to the lower end of the locking pawl
with the rods extending to the opposite sides of the lid with the
locking lids being resiliently urged outwardly to the sides of the
lid. Each of the lift mechanisms includes a striker plate which is
mounted on the lower bracket which engages the outer end of the
associated locking rod, as the lid is moved downwardly to its
closed position, until the outer end of the locking rod passes
beneath the lower end of the striker plate at which time the
locking rod moves outwardly beneath the lower end of the striker
plate to lock the lid in position. When the locking pawl is rotated
to move the outer ends of the locking rods from beneath the striker
plates, the gas springs automatically move the lid to its open
position.
[0010] It is therefore a principal object of the invention to
provide an improved hinge and lift assembly for hingedly mounting a
lid to the bed of a truck.
[0011] Still another object of the invention is to provide a hinge
and lift assembly of the type described wherein the lid
automatically rises to its open position once the latch is
unlocked.
[0012] Still another object of the invention is to provide a hinge
and lift assembly of the type described which provides resistance
when closing the lid to prevent free-fall thereof.
[0013] Still another object of the invention is to provide a hinge
and lift assembly of the type described which places less stress on
the hinges thereof.
[0014] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hinge
and lift assembly for hingedly mounting a lid to the bed of a truck
wherein better side-to-side stability is provided.
[0015] Still another object of the invention is to provide
adjustable gas springs or shocks for a truck bed lid for various
weather conditions.
[0016] Still another object of the invention is to provide a hinge
and lift assembly for hingedly mounting a lid to the bed of a truck
wherein the lift assemblies are attached towards the rear of the
vehicle, thus eliminating buckling during hot weather.
[0017] These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in
the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pickup truck having the
lid of this invention mounted thereon;
[0019] FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the lid illustrating the
manner in which the lid is pivotally connected to the bed of the
truck and illustrating one of the lift mechanisms;
[0020] FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A except that the lid is
shown in its closed position;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial transverse sectional view of the lid in
its closed position;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower portion of one of
the lift mechanisms;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of one of the locking
rod mechanisms; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in
which the lid is hinged to the bed of the truck.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] In the drawings, the numeral 10 refers to a pickup truck
having a bed 12 at the rearward end which has the lid or cover 14
hingedly mounted thereon. Bed 12 includes a vertically disposed
front wall 16 having a frame member 18 extending across the upper
inner end thereof. Bed 12 also includes vertically disposed side
walls 20 and 22 and a pivotal tailgate 24. Side walls 20 and 22 are
provided with vertically disposed flanges 26 and 28 at their upper
ends, respectively.
[0026] The forward end of lid 14 is hingedly secured to the bed 12
by a hinge mechanism referred to generally by the reference numeral
30 which comprises a pair of hinge units 32 with one of the hinge
units 32 being positioned adjacent the forward end of side wall 20
and the other hinge unit 32 being positioned adjacent the forward
end of side wall 22. The only difference between the two hinge
units 32 is that they are mirror images of one another. Hinge unit
32 includes a vertically disposed mounting plate or bracket 34
which is clamped onto the forward end of flange 26 through the use
of bolts 36 which extend through plate 34 and which have plates 38
threadably mounted on the inner ends thereof with the plates 38
being positioned behind the flange 26. A first hinge plate portion
40 is secured to the forward end of plate 34 by gusset 42 and has a
plate portion 44 which is horizontally disposed and which is
positioned on the upper end of front wall 16. The forward end of
plate portion 44 extends forwardly of the forward end of front wall
16 and has an elongated slot 46 formed therein. The numeral 48
refers to a second hinge plate portion which is secured to the lid
14 by bolts and which has an arcuate connector element 50 extending
downwardly and forwardly therefrom which is adapted to be received
in the slot 46 to hingedly connect the lid 14 to the bed 12. The
reception of the connector element 50 in the elongated slot 46 also
provides lateral or side-to-side stability of the lid with respect
to the bed 12.
[0027] The numeral 52 refers generally to the lid opener mechanism
which is comprised of lift mechanisms 54 and 56. Inasmuch as lift
mechanisms 54 and 56 are identical, only lift mechanism 54 will be
described in detail with "'" indicating identical structure on lift
mechanism 56. Lift mechanism 54 includes a lower bracket 58 which
is clamped onto the flange 26 of side wall 20 in much the same
fashion as the hinge mechanism 32 is clamped onto the flange 26.
Lower bracket 58 includes a horizontally disposed portion 60 which
rests upon the upper end of the side wall 20 and a lower portion 62
which is positioned below the upper end of the side wall 20. An
angular lower arm 64 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the
lower portion 62 at 66 and has an upper arm 68 pivotally secured to
its upper end (forward) at 70. The upper (rearward) end of upper
arm 68 is pivotally connected to upper bracket 72 at 74. Upper
bracket 72 is secured to the underside of lid 14 by bolts or screws
76. The upper end of gas spring 78 is pivotally connected to the
upper end of upper arm 68 at 80 and has its rod end pivotally
connected to lower arm 64 intermediate the length thereof. As seen
in FIG. 2A, lower arm 64 has three spaced-apart openings 82, 84 and
86 formed therein to enable the rod end of gas spring 78 to be
selectively adjustably secured to lower arm 64 so that the gas
spring may be adjusted to compensate for varying temperature
conditions. For example, in extreme cold temperature conditions,
the rod of the gas spring 78 may be pivotally secured to the
uppermost opening 86 while in extreme hot temperatures, the rod of
the gas spring 78 may be pivotally secured to the opening 82. The
adjustability feature of the gas spring 78 is desired, since there
will be greater gas pressure within gas spring 78 in hot
temperatures and will have less gas pressure therein during cold
temperatures.
[0028] A locking pawl 88 extends downwardly through the lid 14
intermediate the lift mechanisms 54 and 56 and has a pair of
spring-loaded locking rods 90 and 92 pivotally secured to the lower
end thereof. Locking rod 90 extends to lift mechanism 54 while
locking rod 92 extends to lift mechanism 56. Locking rod 90 extends
through a U-shaped bracket 94 and has spring 96 mounted thereon, as
seen in FIG. 3. An adjustable locking collar 98 is mounted on the
rod 90 within bracket 94 and is adapted to vary the compression of
the spring 96. As seen in FIG. 5, bracket 94 includes elongated
slots 100 and 102 which vertically slidably receive the rod 90.
Plate 104 is vertically adjustably mounted on the bracket 94 by
bolts and has an opening 106 formed therein which receives the rod
90. Thus, the relationship of the rod 90 may be vertically adjusted
with respect to the bracket 94.
[0029] An inclined and angularly disposed striker plate 108 is
secured to lower bracket 58 and extends inwardly therefrom. As lid
14 is being lowered to its closed position, the outer end of the
locking rod 90 engages the striker plate 108 which causes the rod
90 to be moved inwardly against the compression of the spring 96.
When the lid 14 reaches its closed position, the outer end of the
rod 90 will pass beneath the lower end of the striker plate 108 and
will be positioned below the lower edge thereof, as illustrated
in
[0030] FIG. 3, to lock the lid 14 in its closed position. The rod
92 interacts with the striker plate 108' in an identical
fashion.
[0031] When it is desired to open the lid 14, the locking pawl 88
is unlocked and rotated which will cause the outer ends of the
locking rods 90 and 92 to be moved inwardly of the striker plates
108 and 108'. At that time, the gas springs 78 will automatically
raise the lid to its upper, open position. The opening of the lid
occurs without any assistance from the person opening the lid. The
gas springs provide resistance to the closing of the lid to prevent
free-fall of the lid. The fact that the lift mechanisms are
attached to the lid toward the rear of the vehicle eliminates
buckling during hot weather. As stated, the multiple attachment
points for the gas springs permit the lift mechanisms to be
adjusted for various weather conditions. The pivotal connection of
the lower arm 64 to the lower brackets 58 at a point below the
upper end of the side walls also assists in the raising of the lid
to its open position. The hinge connection of the lid to the bed
enables the lid to be hinged thereto without drilling holes in the
bed. Further, the lid may be easily mounted on the bed and easily
removed therefrom.
[0032] Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least
all of its stated objectives.
* * * * *