IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0687749
(2012-11-28)
|
등록번호 |
US-8567843
(2013-10-29)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Schmeichel, Charles M.
- Schmeichel, Steven C.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
11 인용 특허 :
60 |
초록
▼
A tonneau cover apparatus for securing a flexible cover about a cargo box of a pickup truck. The apparatus comprises the cover and a support frame for attachment to the cargo box. The frame has two opposing side rails, each of which has a lock engaging surface. The support frame further includes a p
A tonneau cover apparatus for securing a flexible cover about a cargo box of a pickup truck. The apparatus comprises the cover and a support frame for attachment to the cargo box. The frame has two opposing side rails, each of which has a lock engaging surface. The support frame further includes a pair of securing plate engagement members, each of which is secured to one of the respective opposing side rails. The apparatus further comprises a flexible cover securing plate attached to the cover. The flexible cover securing plate includes a channel and least one locking member. Each locking member is secured within the channel and each respective locking member is engagable with the lock engaging surface of the respective side rail such that the flexible cover securing plate is prevented from disengaging with respect to the respective side rail when it is in a first position.
대표청구항
▼
1. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a vehicle, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end and two opposing sidewalls, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover including a sheet of coated fabric material, the f
1. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a vehicle, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end and two opposing sidewalls, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover including a sheet of coated fabric material, the flexible cover having first and second ends;a support frame for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame having two opposing side rails and a pair of securing plate engagement members, each of which is secured to one of the respective opposing side rails in a position rearward of the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box;a flexible cover securing plate attached to one end of the flexible cover; the flexible cover securing plate configured to cooperatively engage and pivot with respect to each of the respective securing plate engagement members at first and second engagement positions; wherein the securing plate engagement members cooperate to engage the flexible cover securing plate when the first end of the flexible cover is operatively connected to the support frame forward of the respective securing plate engagement members, such that the flexible cover securing plate can pivot into and out of a fixed stretching position, at the respective first and second engagement positions, wherein the flexible cover is stretched so as to place a tension on the flexible cover;a locking member, the locking member being secured to the flexible cover securing plate and movable between a first position and a second position when the flexible cover securing plate is in the fixed stretching position; andan elongated member selected from the group consisting of a cable and draw cord; the elongated member connected to the locking member;wherein the locking member prevents the flexible cover securing plate from being disengaged from the fixed stretching position when the locking member is in the first position in which an extension of the locking member engages the side rail adjacent to the flexible cover securing plate to prevent such movement, and wherein the flexible cover securing plate can be disengaged from the fixed stretching position when the locking member is in the second position. 2. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes a channel, wherein the locking member is secured within the channel. 3. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 2, wherein the flexible cover securing plate has first and second ends, wherein the channel extends from the first end of the flexible cover securing plate to the second end of the flexible cover securing plate. 4. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking member is spring biased in the first position. 5. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a vehicle, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end and two opposing sidewalls, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover, the flexible cover having first and second ends; the flexible cover also having a first fastener;a support frame for attachment to the cargo box; the support frame having two opposing side rails and a pair of securing plate engagement members, each of which is secured to one of the respective opposing side rails in a position rearward of the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box; the side rails further including a second fastener corresponding to the first fastener;a flexible cover securing plate attached to the second end of the flexible cover, the flexible cover securing plate configured to cooperatively engage the respective securing plate engagement members when the flexible cover is drawn over the top of the perimeter of the cargo box;two locking members, each locking member being secured to the flexible cover securing plate; andan elongated member selected from the group consisting of a cable and draw cord; the elongated member interconnected to each of the two locking members; wherein the elongated member can be used to draw each of the locking members from a first position to a second position when the flexible cover securing plate is in the closed position;wherein the securing plate engagement members cooperate to engage the flexible cover securing plate in a full engagement position when the first end of the flexible cover is operatively connected to the support frame forward of the respective securing plate engagement members, and the flexible cover securing plate is in a closed position, wherein the flexible cover is stretched so as to place a tension on the flexible cover; andwherein the locking members prevent the flexible cover securing plate from being disengaged from the closed position when the locking members are in the first position in which an extension of each of the respective locking members engages one of the respective side rails adjacent to the flexible cover securing plate to prevent such movement, and wherein the flexible cover securing plate can be disengaged from the closed position when each of the respective locking members are in the second position. 6. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 5, wherein the locking members are located on an underside of the flexible cover securing plate. 7. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are selected from the group consisting of hook fastener and loop fastener. 8. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the respective locking members are spring biased toward the first position. 9. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a vehicle, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end and two opposing sidewalls, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover, the flexible cover having first and second ends;two opposing side rails, each side rail including a flexible cover securing plate engagement member in a position rearward of the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box; anda flexible cover securing plate attached to the second end of the flexible cover, the flexible cover securing plate configured to cooperatively engage the respective securing plate engagement members;wherein each of the respective securing plate engagement members include a surface for engagement with the flexible cover securing plate that faces rearward of the forward end, when the side rails are attached about the top of the perimeter of the cargo box, that is accessible to engagement by the flexible cover securing plate from a position rearward of such surface so that the respective securing plate engagement members can engage respective ends of the flexible cover securing plate when the first end of the flexible cover is operatively connected to the side rails forward of the respective securing plate engagement members;wherein the flexible cover securing plate further includes a spring-biased locking member on an underside of the flexible cover securing plate, the locking member being movable between a first position and a second position; wherein the locking member can prevent the flexible cover securing plate from being disengaged from the securing plate engagement members when the locking member is in the first position and wherein the flexible cover securing plate can be disengaged from the respective plate engagement members when the locking member is in the second position; andan elongated member selected from the group consisting of a cable and draw cord; the elongated member connected to the locking member such that the elongated member can draw the locking member from the first position to the second position. 10. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flexible cover securing plate has two locking members each of which is spring-biased toward the first position. 11. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 9, wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes a channel; wherein the locking member is slidably secured within the channel. 12. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 9, wherein the locking member is spring biased toward the first position with a spring. 13. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 12, wherein the spring is selected from a compression spring and a tension spring. 14. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a vehicle, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end and two opposing sidewalls, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover including a sheet of coated fabric material, the flexible cover having a first fastener;a support frame for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame having two opposing side rails, each of which can be secured to one of the respective opposing side walls and each of which have a second fastener that corresponds to the first fastener; and a flexible cover securing plate having first and second ends, the flexible cover securing plate being attached to the flexible cover, the flexible cover securing plate being engageable with the respective side rails to secure the flexible cover to the support frame;wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes a locking member and a channel proximate one of the respective ends, the locking member being slidably secured within the channel; andan elongated member selected from the group consisting of a cable and draw cord; the elongated member connected to the locking member;wherein the flexible cover securing plate is prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail when the locking member is in a first position and the flexible cover securing plate is secured to at least one of the respective side rails;wherein the locking member is biased toward the first position; and wherein the flexible cover securing plate can disengage from the respective side rails when the locking member is in a second position. 15. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 14, wherein each side rail includes a securing plate engagement member and the flexible cover securing plate is configured to cooperatively engage and pivot with respect to each of the respective securing plate engagement members at first and second engagement positions. 16. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 14, wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes two locking members, each locking member being slidably secured within the channel. 17. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 14, wherein the locking member has a finger portion with a tapered shape. 18. The tonneau cover of claim 14, wherein the flexible cover securing plate has a channel proximate each end and two locking members, each of which is slidably secured within such channel at an end opposite the end where the other locking member is secured. 19. The tonneau cover of claim 18, wherein each of the locking members are spring-biased toward the first position. 20. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a vehicle, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end and two opposing sidewalls, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover having first and second ends;a support frame for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame having two opposing side rails, each of which can be secured to one of the respective opposing side walls; and a flexible cover securing plate having first and second ends and an underside, the flexible cover securing plate being attached to the flexible cover, wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes a channel proximate the underside that extends from the first end to the second end, the flexible cover securing plate being engageable with the respective side rails to secure the flexible cover to the support frame;wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes at least one locking member and the at least one locking member is slidably secured within the channel proximate one of the ends of the flexible cover securing plate;wherein the flexible cover securing plate further includes an elongated member selected from the group consisting of a cable and draw cord; the elongated member connected to the at least one locking member;wherein the at least one locking member is engaged with the respective opposing side rail and the flexible cover securing plate is prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail, when the at least one locking member is in a first position and the flexible cover securing plate is secured to each of the respective side rails;wherein the at least one locking member is biased toward the first position with a spring; and wherein the flexible cover securing plate can disengage from the respective side rail with which the at least one locking member is engaged when the locking member is drawn from the first position to a second position by the elongated member. 21. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 20, wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes two locking members, both of which are connected to the elongated member. 22. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 21, wherein the elongated member interconnects the two locking members. 23. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 20, wherein the support frame further includes a pair of securing plate engagement members, each of which is secured to one of the respective side rails in a position rearward of the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box. 24. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 20, wherein the channel extends from the first end of the flexible cover securing plate to the second end of the flexible cover securing plate. 25. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a vehicle, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover;a support frame for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame having two opposing side rails, each of which can be secured to one of the respective opposing side walls; and a flexible cover securing plate having first and second ends, the flexible cover securing plate being attached to the flexible cover, the flexible cover securing plate being engageable with the respective side rails to secure the flexible cover to the support frame; wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes two locking members interconnected by a cable; wherein the flexible cover securing plate is prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail, when the locking members are in a first position and the flexible cover securing plate is secured to each of the respective side rails; wherein the locking members are biased toward the first position; and wherein the flexible cover securing plate can disengage from the respective side rails when the cable is pulled such that the locking members move into in a second position. 26. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 25, wherein the locking member s are biased toward the first position with a spring selected from the group consisting of a tension spring and a compression spring. 27. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 25, wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes a channel proximate each end; wherein each locking member is slidably secured within one respective channel. 28. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 25, wherein the locking member has a finger portion with a tapered shape. 29. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 25, wherein each side rail has an engaging surface and the engaging surface is constructed and arranged so that a portion of the locking member can be positioned below the respective engaging surface when the lock member is engaged with the side rail and in the first position. 30. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a vehicle, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover;a support frame for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame having two opposing side rails, each of which can be secured to one of the respective opposing side walls; and a flexible cover securing plate having first and second ends, the flexible cover securing plate being attached to the flexible cover, the flexible cover securing plate being engageable with the respective side rails to secure the flexible cover to the support frame; wherein the flexible cover securing plate includes a locking member slidably secured within a channel proximate one of the respective ends; wherein the flexible cover securing plate is prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail, when the locking member is in a first position and the flexible cover securing plate is secured to each of the respective side rails; wherein the locking member is biased toward the first position; and wherein the flexible cover securing plate can disengage from the respective side rails when the locking member is in a second position. 31. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 30, wherein the locking member is biased toward the first position with a spring selected from the group consisting of a tension spring and a compression spring. 32. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 30, wherein the flexible cover securing plate can be disengaged from the opposing side rails when the locking member is in the second position. 33. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a cable connected to the locking member; wherein the cable can move the locking member out of the first position. 34. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 30, wherein the locking member has a finger portion with a tapered shape. 35. The tonneau cover apparatus of claim 30, wherein each side rail has an engaging surface and the engaging surface is constructed and arranged so that a portion of the locking member can be positioned below the respective engaging surface when the lock member is engaged with the side rail and in the first position.
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