U.S. patent number RE33,790 [Application Number 07/472,656] was granted by the patent office on 1992-01-07 for demountable pick-up truck tonneau cover.
Invention is credited to Roy L. Huber.
United States Patent |
RE33,790 |
Huber |
January 7, 1992 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Demountable pick-up truck tonneau cover
Abstract
A demountable tonneau cover for enclosing the open top of a
pick-up truck cargo box comprises a relatively light-weight
laminated panel which fits onto the open top of the cargo box to
enclose the cargo space. Two pairs of spring-loaded pins are
mounted on the interior of the cover along opposite sides for
releasably latching the cover to the sides of the cargo box. These
pins are inaccessible from the exterior of the cargo box when the
cover is on the box. Cables extend from the spring-loaded pins
through passages within the cover to pull handles which are also
mounted on the interior of the cover adjacent the rear edge. The
pins are normally biased to extended positions for fitting into
holes in the sides of the cargo box and thereby latching the cover
in place on the cargo box. When the pull handles are operated, the
pins are retracted out of the holes thereby allowing the cover to
be displaced from the position enclosing the cargo space. The pull
handles are inaccessible when the cover is in place on the box for
enclosing the cargo space and the tailgate forming the rear of the
cargo box is closed, but they are rendered accessible when the
tailgate is opened. The tailgate is locked by a key-operated lock
thereby prohibiting access to the pull handles, and hence
preventing access to the cargo space or removal of the cover
without a key for unlocking the tailgate.
Inventors: |
Huber; Roy L. (Plymouth,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
27043854 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/472,656 |
Filed: |
January 30, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
921618 |
Oct 21, 1986 |
04762360 |
Aug 9, 1988 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/100.07;
296/57.1; 49/395 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
7/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
7/00 (20060101); B60P 7/02 (20060101); B60F
007/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;296/100,101,106,50,56,57.1 ;49/395 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
847498 |
|
Oct 1939 |
|
FR |
|
1570605 |
|
Jun 1969 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Focarino; Margaret A.
Assistant Examiner: Pape; Joseph D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rhodes; Alex
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a pick-up truck having a chassis-mounted cargo box comprising
a generally horizontal floor and a generally vertical wall
structure cooperating with said floor to form a cargo space which
is bounded on the bottom by said floor and laterally by said
vertical wall structure, but which is open at the top, said
vertical wall structure including a gate which is movable from a
position laterally bounding the cargo space to a position which
does not laterally bound the cargo space, and a tonneau cover
cooperating with the open top of the cargo box to enclose the cargo
space at the top, the improvement which comprises:
said cover comprising a relatively rigid, but relatively
light-weight, panel, which, when disposed in cooperative
relationship with the open top of the cargo box to enclose the
cargo space, is generally horizontally disposed.[., said panel
comprised of a relatively rigid plastic cellular core, a thin upper
outer skin bonded to the upper and outer surfaces of the cellular
core and a thin lower wall joined to the cellular core.].;
means for releasably securing said panel to said vertical wall
structure comprising at least one releasable latch disposed at a
selected location for performing a releasable latch function
between the panel and said vertical wall structure, means for
operating said releasable latch from latching to non-latching
condition, said means for releasing said latch being substantially
within the interior of the lightweight panel, including at least
one operator means which is remote from said releasable latch and
which, when the panel is disposed on the box in covering relation
to the cargo space and the gate is in laterally bounding relation
to said cargo space, is inaccessible for operation;
and means for releasably locking said gate in laterally bounding
relation to said cargo space by means of a key-operated mechanism
which is accessible for operation exterior of the cargo space.
2. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which said latch
comprises a pin which is carried by said panel and which, in
latching condition, passes into a hole in said side, and, in
non-latching condition, is free of said hole.
3. The improvement set fourth in claim 2 including means for
resiliently biasing said pin toward latching condition.
4. The improvement set forth in claim 3 in which said operator
means is carried by said panel and said means for operating said
releasable latch comprises a cable extending from said pin to said
operator means and disposed in a cable-locating guide in said
panel.
5. The improvement set forth in claim 4 in which said operator
means comprises a pull handle which is disposed at a marginal edge
portion of said panel which is juxtaposed to said gate, and said
pull handle is arranged for motion along a direction which is
transverse to the direction of motion of said pin between latching
and non-latching conditions.
6. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which said means for
releasably locking said gate is carried by said panel along said
marginal edge portion of said panel and comprises a pawl which is
operable into and out of locking engagement with said gate.
7. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which there are two
pairs of said releasale latches, one pair at one marginal edge
portion of said panel and the other pair at another marginal edge
portion of said panel, said two marginal edge portions of said
panel being parallel with each other.
8. The improvement set forth in claim 7 in which the two latches of
each pair are carried by said panel and are spaced apart from each
other longitudinally, and at least one of said latches comprises a
horizontal pin which translates axially between latching and
non-latching conditions.
9. The improvement set forth in claim 8 in which at least one latch
of each said pair comprises said horizontal pin, and the pin of
said at least one latch of said one pair is coaxial with the pin of
said at least one latch of said other pair.
10. The improvement set forth in claim 8 in which both said latches
of each pair comprises said horizontal pin and each pin of said one
pair is coaxial with a corresponding pin of said other pair.
11. The improvement set forth in claim 10 in which each pin is
operated between latching and non-latching conditions by a
corresponding individual one of said operator, said means being
carried by said penal and disposed along another marginal edge
portion of said panel which extends between the first-two-mentioned
marginal edge portions of said panel and which is juxtaposed to
said gate.
12. The improvement set forth in claim 11 in which said operator
means are guided on said panel for horizontal translation along
directions which are transverse to the directions of translation of
said pins.
13. The improvement set forth in claim 12 in which the pins
translate in parallel paths and said operator means translate along
parallel paths, the paths .[.of.]. of said operator means being at
90 degrees to the paths of said pins when said releasable latches
are operated from said latching to said non-latching
conditions.
14. The improvement set forth in claim 12 in which said means for
releasably locking said gate is carried by said panel at said
another marginal edge portion of said panel.
15. The improvement set forth in claim 14 in which said means for
releasably locking said gate comprises a pawl which is operable
into and out of locking engagement with said gate, and said pawl is
disposed on said panel such that the operator means for said one
pair of latches are to one side of said pawl along said another
marginal edge portion and the operator means for said other pair of
latches are to the other side of said pawl along said another
marginal edge portion.
16. The improvement set forth in claim 12 in which each pin is
operatively coupled to its operator means by a cable which is
disposed within its own cable-locating guide in said panel.
17. The improvement set forth in claim 8 including two pairs of
lifting handles on said panel, one pair of handles at said one
marginal edge portion of said panel, and the other pair of handles
at said another marginal edge portion of said panel, the handles of
each pair being spaced apart from each other, and each handle being
grippable at the top exterior portion of said panel when extended
upwardly to gripping position from a non-gripping position wherein
the handles are substantially flush with upper surface of said
panel and cannot be gripped for carrying.
18. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which said at least one
latch comprises a pin which is carried by said panel and which, in
latching condition, passes into a hole in said vertical wall
structure, and, in non-latching condition, is free of said hole,
said panel further including a prop which is carried by said panel
and has a free end capable of fitting said hole, and wherein said
means for releasably securing said panel to said vertical wall
structure comprises means for pivotally mounting said panel to said
vertical wall structure for pivotal motion about a horizontal axis
spaced from said hole, and said prop is so arranged on said panel
for stowage essentially co-planar with said panel and for propping
said panel in a non-horizontal position pivoted about said axis by
fitting of said free end of said prop into said hole.
19. The improvement set forth in claim 1 including a weatherstrip
seal extending peripherally around said panel into sealing
engagement with said vertical wall structure.
20. In a pick-up truck having a chassis-mounted cargo box
comprising a generally horizontal floor and a generally
.[.vertical.]. vertical wall structure cooperating with said floor
to form a cargo space which is bounded on the bottom by said floor
and laterally by said vertical wall structure, but which is open at
the top, said vertical wall structure comprising side walls
extending fore and aft along opposite sides of the cargo space and
a tailgate extending between said side walls along the rear of the
cargo space, said tailgate being movable from a position laterally
bounding the cargo space to a position which does not laterally
bound the cargo space, and a tonneau cover cooperating with the
open top of the cargo box to enclose the cargo space at the top,
the improvement which comprises:
said cover comprising a relatively rigid, but relatively
light-weight, panel, which, when disposed in cooperative
relationship with the open top of the cargo box to enclose the
cargo space, is generally horizontally disposed.[., said panel
comprised of a relatively rigid plastic cellular core, a thin upper
outer skin bonded to the upper and outer surfaces of the cellular
core and a thin lower wall joined to the cellular core.].; means
for releasably securing said panel to said vertical wall structure
comprising two pairs of pins, one pair disposed on said panel for
fitting into corresponding holes in one of said side walls, and the
other pair disposed on said panel for fitting into corresponding
holes in the other of said side walls, at least certain of said
pins being movable into and out of the corresponding holes for
enabling said panel to .Iadd.be .Iaddend.secured to and released
from said wall structure, operator means carried by said panel
adjacent said tailgate for operating said certain movable pins and
disposed such that when the panel is disposed on the box in
covering relation to the cargo space and the gate is in laterally
bounding relation to said cargo space, said operator means is
inaccessible for operation;
and means for releasably locking said tailgate in laterally
bounding relation to said cargo space by means of a key-operated
mechanism which is accessible for operation exterior of the cargo
space.
21. The improvement set forth in claim 20 in which all said pins
are operated by said operator means for movement into and out of
the corresponding holes.
22. The improvement set forth in claim 21 in which said means for
releasably locking said tailgate is carried by said panel.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to pick-up truck covers and more
particularly to a demountable light-weight and lockable cover for
enclosing a pick-up truck cargo box.
The popularity of the pick-up truck with the handyman, camper and
vacationer has significantly increased because of its utility
combined with recent improvements in styling and comfort. An
inherent disadvantage of the pick-up truck is the open cargo box
which exposes articles to weathering and losses by theft. Numerous
styles of tonneau covers have heretofore been offered, however,
despite the recognized need for tonneau covers, the majority of
pick-up owners have been dissuaded from purchasing them because of
high cost, poor appearance, inadequate security, difficult
installation, lack of utility and difficult tonneau cover storage.
Consequently, a large number of prospective customers are available
for an improved pick-up truck tonneau cover.
The present invention addresses the limitations of prior tonneau
covers by offering security, attractive styling, moderate cost,
simple installation, improved utility and ease of storage.
Moreover, in most cases, the light-weight tonneau cover can be
installed or removed by a single person.
One benefit of the tonneau cover is improved fuel economy from
reduced aerodynamic drag. Among the features of the cover is a
double acting latching means for retaining the cover to a cargo box
which provides convenient access to the front or rear of the box.
Another feature is a means for propping the cover in a partially
open position to partially open the cargo box when it is used as a
sleeping compartment by hunters or campers. Still yet another
feature is a cylinder key which by a single key locks the truck
tailgate to the tonneau cover and prevents access to the cargo
space. Still yet another feature is a convenient operator means for
releasing the tonneau cover which is readily accessible when the
tailgate is unlocked, but inaccessible when the tailgate is
locked.
The light-weight demountable tonneau cover comprises a relatively
light-weight laminated structure which subtends the open top of the
cargo box. Two pairs of spring-biased pins are mounted on opposite
sides of the tonneau cover for releasably latching the cover to the
sides of the cargo box. The pins are inaccessible from the exterior
of the cargo box when the cover is on the box.
Pull cables are attached to the spring-biased pins and are
internally routed through passages in the cover to pull handles
attached to the other end portions of the cables and located on the
underside of the cover such that they are accessible only when the
tailgate of a truck to which the cover is mounted is open.
The pins are normally biased to outward extended positions for
fitting into holes in the sides of a cargo box to latch the cover
in place on the cargo box.
When the pull handles are operated, the pins retract out of the
holes, allowing the cover to be displaced for access to the cargo
space. The pull handles are inaccessible when the cover is in
enclosing relation to the cargo box and the tailgate forming the
rear of the cargo box is closed but are accessible when the
tailgate is opened. The lock for securing to the rear end portion
of the tonneau cover to the tailgate prohibits removal of the cover
without a key for unlocking the tailgate.
Further features of the invention along with additional benefits
and objects will become apparent from reference to the drawings and
ensuing detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the
invention which discloses the best mode contemplated in carrying
out the invention. The exclusive rights which are claimed are
particularly and distinctly set forth in each of the numbered
claims following the detailed description of the preferred
embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pick-up truck showing the present
invention of a tonneau cover mounted on the cargo box of the
truck.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pick-up truck shown in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial side elevational view of the pick-up truck of
FIG. 1 showing the tonneau cover in a raised position.
FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the pick-up truck shown in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tonneau cover drawn to an enlarged
scale from FIG. 1 with the outer seal removed.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the tonneau cover shown in
FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the tonneau cover shown in
FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is a partial plan view of the tonneau cover of FIG. 6 drawn
to an enlarged scale from FIG. 6 showing the key lock of the
tonneau cover.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10--10 of FIG. 6
drawn to an enlarge scale and showing one of the spring-biased
retention pins of the tonneau cover.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11--11 of FIG. 6
drawn to an enlarged scale and showing one of the lifting handles
of the tonneau cover.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12--12 of FIG.
11.
FIG. 13 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 7
showing one pair of pull handles of the tonneau cover.
FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14--14 of FIG.
13.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 3,
inclusive, the particular embodiment of the invention which is
illustrated therein for disclosure purposes, is a generally
rectangular tonneau cover 20 which subtends the open area at the
top of a pick-up truck cargo box 21 to enclose the space within the
box.
The pick-up truck 22 in the drawings is conventional and has a
cargo box 21 which comprises a generally horizontal floor 23 and a
generally vertical adjoining side structure 24 which cooperates
with the floor 23 to form a cargo space bounded on the bottom by
the floor 23 and laterally by the adjoining side 24.
The cargo box side structure 24 has a pair of spaced apart side
walls 25 extending fore-and-aft and adjoining the lower side edge
portions of the floor 23, a laterally extending front wall 26
adjoining the front edge portion of the floor 23 and the front edge
portions of the side walls 25, and a tailgate 27 extending
laterally between the side walls 25 along the rear of the cargo
space.
The top portions of the cargo box side walls 25 are inverted
channels which form structural fore-and-aft upper rails 28 for the
body side walls 25. In the vertical inner portion of each side wall
rail 28 is a pair of holes 29 which are provided either by a
manufacturer or drilled by an installer during the initial
installation of the tonneau cover 20.
The tailgate 27 which encloses the rear of the cargo box 21 is
mounted to the rear edge portion of the floor 23 for pivotal
movement from a substantially vertical position shown in FIGS. 1
through 3 to a horizontal position (not shown) which is
substantially co-planar with the floor 23.
The tonneau cover 20, in FIGS. 1 through 3, inclusive, is in
cooperative enclosing relationship with the cargo box 21, and is
comprised of a relatively rigid, but relatively light-weight panel
30, a means for releasably securing the panel to the side structure
24 of a cargo box 21, a means for operating the means which
releasably secures the panel to the cargo box 21, and a means for
releasably locking the tailgate 27 in lateral bounding relation to
the tonneau cover 20.
The generally rectangular panel 30 of the tonneau cover 20 has an
overall size which is slightly smaller than the open area at the
top of the cargo box 21. Around the perimeter of the panel there is
provided a flexible seal 31 which is suitably bonded to the
vertical outer surface 32 of the panel 30, for sealing the gap 33
between the panel 30 and cargo box 21.
The light-weight panel 30 is comprised of a relatively rigid
plastic cellular core 34 and an upper plastic outer skin 35 and
thin aluminum or plastic lower wall 36 suitably bonded to the
cellular core 34. Additionally, there is provided in the interior
of the panel 30 several reinforcements made of wood or some other
suitable material attached to the interior of the panel 30.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the light-weight panel 30 is
releasably secured to the side structure 24 of the cargo box 21 by
two pairs of spring-biased pins 38 which normally engage the holes
29 in vertical inner portions of the cargo box side walls rails 28.
One pair of pins 38 is mounted in a marginal edge portion of the
panel 30 and another symmetrical pair of mounted in the oposite
marginal edge portion of the panel 30. The spring-biased pins 38 at
opposite sides of the panel 30 are aligned such that front 39 and
rear 40 pivot axes are established about which the panel 30 can be
alternatively rotated for convenient access to the front and rear
of the cargo box 21 by disengaging one pair of aligned pins 38 from
the side wall upper rails 28 and pivoting the panel 30 about the
other pair of aligned pins 38.
Each pin 38 is a slender round member slideably mounted in a
transverse aperture 41 of a wooden reinforcement 42, 43 suitably
joined to the panel 30. There is provided in the aperture 41 a wire
compression spring 44 which presses against the inner end of the
pin 38 to normally engage the pin 38 with the hole 29 in the side
wall rail 28. The inner end of the pin 38 is suitably attached to
one end of a corresponding cable 45 which is positioned in its own
channel 46 in the lower portion of the cellular core 34 of the
panel 30. The end portion of the cable sheath 47 nearest the pin 38
is attached to the wooden reinforcement 42, 43 in which the pin 38
is mounted.
In the wooden reinforcements 42 of the rear pins 38 is a pair of
fore-and-aft vertical holes 50 which receive an inverted U-shaped
lifting handle 48. The vertical legs 49 of the lifting handle 48
which is preferably formed from wire, extend downwardly through the
vertical holes 50 of the wooden reinforcement 42 and the lower end
portion of each leg 49 receives a clip 51 for retaining the handle
48 in the panel 30. The lower portions 52 of the vertical holes 50
of the wooden reinforcement 42 are counterbored to provide
clearance to the clips 51 of the lifting handles 48.
The other end portion of each cable 45 is attached to a
corresponding stamped U-shaped pull handle which is slideably
mounted to the underside of the panel 30 on two downwardly
extending screws 54. The screws 54 pass through a slot 55 in the
pull handle and engage a wooden reinforcement at the rear end
portion of the panel. In the horizontal leg of the pull handle 53
there is provided an upwardly extending tab 56 for engaging a hole
57 in the lower wall 36 of the panel 30 to retain the handle 53 and
hence the corresponding pin, in the retracted position when the tab
56 is adjacent to the hole 57 and the handle 53 is vertically
lifted.
It will be observed from the drawings that the pull handles 53 of
the cables 45 are located in pairs symmetrically disposed about the
longitudinal centerline of the panel 20 and are accessible only
when the tailgate 27 is unlocked and rotated away from the cargo
box 21. To disengage a pin 38 from its hole 29 in the side wall
rail 28, The corresponding handle 53 is pulled rearwardly.
Centered at the rear edge portion of the panel 30 is a vertically
disposed conventional key cylinder lock 58 which is retained in the
wood reinforcement 59 at rear portion of the cover 20. The lock 58
passes through an aperture 60 in the wood reinforcement 59 and is
retained by the threaded engagement with a hex nut 61 at the lower
end portion of the lock 58.
The cylinder 62 of the lock 58 is rotatable with a key 63 and at
the lower end portion of the lock cylinder 62 there is attached a
pawl 64 which in a locked condition engages a slot 65 in the inner
wall of the tailgate 27 to lock the tailgate 27 to the tonneau
cover 20.
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, at each side of the panel there is
provided a wire prop rod 66 for supporting the panel 30 in an open
position (see FIG. 3). This is particularly useful during the
loading and unloading of articles from the cargo box and when the
cargo space is used during camping for sleeping.
The front end portion 67 of the prop rod 66 is bent inwardly and
rotatably mounted in a bracket 68 which is attached to the
underside of the panel 30. The rear end portion 69 of the prop rod
66 is bent inwardly and engages the rear pin hole 70 in the cargo
box side rail 28 when the rod 66 is used for supporting the panel
30 in an open position. Otherwise, when the panel 30 is closed, the
rear end portion 69 of the prop rod 66 engages a slot 71 in a
vertical leg of an inverted L-bracket 72 which is attached to the
underside of the panel 30.
Although but a single embodiment of my invention has been
disclosed, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can be
derived from my invention by changes in size, shape and the
substitution and arrangement of components without departing from
the spirit thereof.
* * * * *