A retractable pickup truck box cover system includes a pivot joint with improved strength, durability, and manufacturability between panels of a panel assembly of the cover system. A sealing system between the panels and along ends of the panel assembly provides improved weather resistance to the co
A retractable pickup truck box cover system includes a pivot joint with improved strength, durability, and manufacturability between panels of a panel assembly of the cover system. A sealing system between the panels and along ends of the panel assembly provides improved weather resistance to the cover system. A lateral support system provides resistance to binding loads when opening and closing the panel assembly. The lateral support system may also aid installation of the cover system. A ramp adjustment system allows fine tuning of the ramps that guide folding and unfolding of the panel assembly. An improved locking system and the pivot joints allow more compact storage of the panel assembly. The improved locking system includes lock rods that engage rails of the cover system. Connecting structures connect adjacent panel pairs when the cover system is deployed and do not connect the adjacent panels when the cover system is stowed. A seal of the sealing system includes angled and/or transvers ribs to support a bulb of the seal when pivotally scrubbing against the panels. The seal includes a plurality of interior portions that selectively compress and bulge between the panels. The seal includes a coating that may provide stiffness, wear resistance, hardness, and/or reduced friction. A clamping system allows installation of the cover system without drilling holes and includes built-in fixturing for locating clamps and thereby locating the cover system on the pickup truck box.
대표청구항▼
1. A retractable cover system adapted to cover a pickup truck box when in a deployed configuration and adapted to retract to a stowed configuration, the retractable cover system comprising: a first rail;a second rail;a plurality of first rolling guide elements, the first rolling guide elements suppo
1. A retractable cover system adapted to cover a pickup truck box when in a deployed configuration and adapted to retract to a stowed configuration, the retractable cover system comprising: a first rail;a second rail;a plurality of first rolling guide elements, the first rolling guide elements supported and guided along a first path by the first rail;a plurality of second rolling guide elements, the second rolling guide elements supported and guided along a second path by the second rail;a plurality of panels extending along a width between a first side and a second side, each of the first sides supported by a respective one or more of the first rolling guide elements and, in turn, by the first rail and each of the second sides supported by a respective one or more of the second rolling guide elements and, in turn, by the second rail, each of the panels extending along a respective length between a respective front and a respective back, and the panels of adjacent pairs of the panels pivotally attached to one another at a corresponding pivot of a plurality of pivots, the pivots each including a first pivot joint member and a second pivot joint member, the first pivot joint member connected to one of the first rolling guide elements and the second pivot joint member connected to one of the second rolling guide elements; andat least one connecting structure that structurally connects the panels of at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration and does not connect the panels of the at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration. 2. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first rolling guide elements is mounted along the first side of the plurality of the panels, the plurality of second rolling guide elements is mounted along the second side of the plurality of the panels, and the rolling guide elements support and guide at least three of the plurality of the panels. 3. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first rolling guide elements is mounted along the first side of the plurality of the panels, the plurality of second rolling guide elements is mounted along the second side of the plurality of the panels, and the rolling guide elements support and guide all but a front panel of the retractable cover system. 4. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein all of the adjacent pairs of the panels are structurally connected by a respective one of the connecting structures when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration and are not structurally connected by the respective ones of the connecting structures when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration. 5. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the connecting structures structurally connects the panels of the at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration and does not connect the panels of the at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration. 6. The retractable cover system of claim 1, further comprising a front cross-member connected to the first rail and the second rail, wherein a front panel of the plurality of the panels is structurally connected to the front cross-member by a front connecting structure when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration and is not connected to the front cross-member by the front connecting structure when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration. 7. The retractable cover system of claim 6, wherein the connecting structure and the front connecting structure each include a common connecting piece. 8. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein the connecting structure includes a first bearing surface that is kinematically part of a first panel of one of the adjacent pairs of the panels and the connecting structure further includes a second bearing surface that is kinematically part of a second panel of the one of the adjacent pairs of the panels, wherein the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface bear against each other and thereby structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration, and wherein the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface are spaced from each other and thereby do not structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration. 9. The retractable cover system of claim 8, wherein the first and the second bearing surfaces are substantially planar. 10. The retractable cover system of claim 8, wherein the first and the second bearing surfaces are substantially parallel to a top of the plurality of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration. 11. The retractable cover system of claim 8, wherein the first bearing surface is substantially parallel to a top of the first panel and faces in a same direction as the top of the first panel and wherein the second bearing surface is substantially parallel to a top of the second panel and faces in an opposite direction as the top of the second panel. 12. The retractable cover system of claim 11, wherein the back of the first panel is adjacent the front of the second panel when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration. 13. The retractable cover system of claim 11, wherein the front of the first panel is adjacent the back of the second panel when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration. 14. The retractable cover system of claim 11, wherein a pivot axis of the pivot that pivotally attaches the first panel and the second panel is positioned above the tops of the first and the second panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration. 15. The retractable cover system of claim 11, wherein a pivot axis of the pivot that pivotally attaches the first panel and the second panel is positioned below the tops of the first and the second panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration. 16. The retractable cover system of claim 11, wherein the respective fronts of the first and the second panels and the respective backs of the first and the second panels each include a C-shaped structure with a top leg, a vertical leg, and a bottom leg, wherein the top leg of the C-shaped structure of the front and the top leg of the C-shaped structure of the back of the respective panels are coextensive and define the respective tops of the respective panels, wherein the respective vertical legs of the respective C-shaped structures extend substantially perpendicular to the respective top legs, and wherein the respective bottom legs of the respective C-shaped structures extend substantially parallel to the respective top legs of the respective C-shaped structures. 17. The retractable cover system of claim 16, wherein the first bearing surface is defined on a first tab attached to the bottom leg of the first panel and wherein the second bearing surface is defined on a portion of the bottom leg of the second panel. 18. The retractable cover system of claim 17, wherein the first tab is a straight tab. 19. The retractable cover system of claim 17, wherein the first tab is an offset tab that is adapted for different lengths of the vertical legs of the C-shaped structures of the first and the second panels, respectively. 20. The retractable cover system of claim 17, wherein the connecting structure further includes a third bearing surface that is kinematically part of the first panel and the connecting structure further includes a fourth bearing surface that is kinematically part of the second panel, wherein the third bearing surface is substantially parallel to the top of the first panel and faces in the opposite direction as the top of the first panel, wherein the fourth bearing surface is substantially parallel to the top of the second panel and faces in the same direction as the top of the second panel, wherein the third bearing surface and the fourth bearing surface bear against each other and thereby further structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration, wherein the third bearing surface and the fourth bearing surface are spaced from each other and thereby do not structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration, wherein the third bearing surface is defined on a portion of the bottom leg of the first panel, and wherein the fourth bearing surface is defined on a second tab attached to the bottom leg of the second panel. 21. The retractable cover system of claim 16, wherein the C-shaped structures of the front of the panels and the corresponding back of the panels are respectively formed from a single sheet of material, the single sheet of material having a substantially uniform thickness for each of the panels, respectively. 22. The retractable cover system of claim 21, wherein the thicknesses are in a range of between about 0.063 inch and about 0.08 inch and wherein at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels includes different thicknesses in the substantially uniform thicknesses between a first panel and a second panel of the adjacent pair of the panels. 23. The retractable cover system of claim 21, wherein the thickness is about 0.063 inch. 24. The retractable cover system of claim 21, wherein the thickness is about 0.08 inch. 25. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein a first panel of a first one of the adjacent pairs of the panels is included in a stationary front cross-member of the retractable cover system. 26. The retractable cover system of claim 25, wherein a first corresponding pivot of the plurality of pivots is separable and thereby adapted to allow removal of a second panel of the first one of the adjacent pairs of the panels from the first panel of the first one of the adjacent pairs of the panels. 27. The retractable cover system of claim 3, further comprising a first front pivot joint member and a second front pivot joint member, the first front pivot joint member connected to the first rail and the second front pivot joint member connected to the second rail, wherein the front panel is pivotally mounted to the first and the second front pivot joint members. 28. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first rolling guide elements travels within the first rail at least along the first path and wherein the plurality of second rolling guide elements travels within the second rail at least along the second path. 29. The retractable cover system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first rolling guide elements includes at least one inner first rolling guide element and at least one outer first rolling guide element, wherein the plurality of second rolling guide elements includes at least one inner second rolling guide element and at least one outer second rolling guide element, wherein the first rail includes a first gap that allows the at least one inner first rolling guide element to leave the first path when moving toward the stowed configuration and allows the at least one inner first rolling guide element to enter the first path when moving toward the deployed configuration, and wherein the second rail includes a second gap that allows the at least one inner second rolling guide element to leave the second path when moving toward the stowed configuration and allows the at least one inner second rolling guide element to enter the second path when moving toward the deployed configuration. 30. A retractable cover system adapted to cover a pickup truck box when in a deployed configuration and adapted to retract to a stowed configuration, the retractable cover system comprising: a first rail;a second rail;a plurality of panels extending along a width between a first side and a second side, the first side supported by the first rail and the second side supported by the second rail, each of the panels extending along a respective length between a respective front and a respective back, and the panels of adjacent pairs of the panels pivotally attached to one another at a corresponding pivot of a plurality of pivots;at least one connecting structure that structurally connects the panels of at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration and does not connect the panels of the at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration;a plurality of guide elements mounted along the first side and the second side of the plurality of the panels, the guide elements supported and guided by the rails and, in turn, supporting and guiding all but a front panel of the plurality of the panels; anda first pivot joint member and a second pivot joint member, the first pivot joint member connected to the first rail and the second pivot joint member connected to the second rail, wherein the front panel is pivotally mounted to the first and the second pivot joint members. 31. The retractable cover system of claim 30, further comprising a front cross-member connected to the first pivot joint member and the second pivot joint member. 32. A retractable cover system adapted to cover a pickup truck box when in a deployed configuration and adapted to retract to a stowed configuration, the retractable cover system comprising: a first rail;a second rail;a plurality of panels extending along a width between a first side and a second side, the first side supported by the first rail and the second side supported by the second rail, each of the panels extending along a respective length between a respective front and a respective back, and the panels of adjacent pairs of the panels pivotally attached to one another at a corresponding pivot of a plurality of pivots;at least one connecting structure that structurally connects the panels of at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration and does not connect the panels of the at least one of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration;wherein the connecting structure includes a first bearing surface that is kinematically part of a first panel of one of the adjacent pairs of the panels and the connecting structure further includes a second bearing surface that is kinematically part of a second panel of the one of the adjacent pairs of the panels, wherein the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface bear against each other and thereby structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration, and wherein the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface are spaced from each other and thereby do not structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration;wherein the first bearing surface is substantially parallel to a top of the first panel and faces in a same direction as the top of the first panel and wherein the second bearing surface is substantially parallel to a top of the second panel and faces in an opposite direction as the top of the second panel;wherein the respective fronts of the first and the second panels and the respective backs of the first and the second panels each include a C-shaped structure with a top leg, a vertical leg, and a bottom leg, wherein the top leg of the C-shaped structure of the front and the top leg of the C-shaped structure of the back of the respective panels are coextensive and define the respective tops of the respective panels, wherein the respective vertical legs of the respective C-shaped structures extend substantially perpendicular to the respective top legs, and wherein the respective bottom legs of the respective C-shaped structures extend substantially parallel to the respective top legs of the respective C-shaped structures; andwherein the first bearing surface is defined on a first tab attached to the bottom leg of the first panel and wherein the second bearing surface is defined on a second tab attached to the bottom leg of the second panel. 33. The retractable cover system of claim 32, wherein the first tab is a straight tab. 34. The retractable cover system of claim 33, wherein the second tab is an offset tab. 35. The retractable cover system of claim 32, wherein the connecting structure further includes a third bearing surface that is kinematically part of the first panel and the connecting structure further includes a fourth bearing surface that is kinematically part of the second panel, wherein the third bearing surface is substantially parallel to the top of the first panel and faces in the opposite direction as the top of the first panel, wherein the fourth bearing surface is substantially parallel to the top of the second panel and faces in the same direction as the top of the second panel, wherein the third bearing surface and the fourth bearing surface bear against each other and thereby further structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration, wherein the third bearing surface and the fourth bearing surface are spaced from each other and thereby do not structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration, wherein the third bearing surface is defined on a third tab attached to the bottom leg of the first panel, and wherein the fourth bearing surface is defined on a fourth tab attached to the bottom leg of the second panel. 36. The retractable cover system of claim 35, wherein the third tab is an offset tab and the fourth tab is a straight tab. 37. The retractable cover system of claim 36, wherein the first tab is a straight tab and the second tab is an offset tab, wherein the first and the third tabs are combined on a first tab piece, and wherein the second and the fourth tabs are combined on a second tab piece. 38. The retractable cover system of claim 37, wherein the first tab piece and the second tab piece are each a common tab piece. 39. The retractable cover system of claim 38, wherein the common tab piece includes an orientation feature that prevents assembly to the panels in an incorrect orientation. 40. The retractable cover system of claim 38, wherein the common tab piece is attached to the panels with staggered fasteners to save space between the first and the second panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration. 41. A retractable cover system adapted to cover a pickup truck box when in a deployed configuration and adapted to retract to a stowed configuration, the retractable cover system comprising: a first rail;a second rail;a plurality of panels extending along a width between a first side and a second side, the first side supported by the first rail and the second side supported by the second rail, each of the panels extending along a respective length between a respective front and a respective back, and the panels of adjacent pairs of the panels pivotally attached to one another about a pivot axis of a corresponding pivot of a plurality of pivots; andconnecting structures that interconnect the panels of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration and do not interconnect the panels of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration, each of the connecting structures including a first tab defining a first bearing surface that is attached to a first panel of one of the adjacent pairs of the panels and each of the connecting structures further including a second tab defining a second bearing surface that is attached to a second panel of the one of the adjacent pairs of the panels;wherein the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface bear against each other and thereby structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration; andwherein the first tab is attached to a bottom of the first panel and the second tab is attached to a bottom of the second panel. 42. The retractable cover system of claim 41, wherein the first tab is a straight tab. 43. The retractable cover system of claim 42, wherein the second tab is an offset tab. 44. The retractable cover system of claim 41, wherein the connecting structures each include a third bearing surface that is attached to the first panel and each of the connecting structures further include a fourth bearing surface that is attached to the second panel, wherein the third bearing surface is substantially parallel to a top of the first panel and faces in the opposite direction as the top of the first panel, wherein the fourth bearing surface is substantially parallel to a top of the second panel and faces in the same direction as the top of the second panel, wherein the third bearing surface and the fourth bearing surface bear against each other and thereby further structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration, wherein the third bearing surface and the fourth bearing surface are spaced from each other and thereby do not structurally connect the corresponding panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration, wherein the third bearing surface is defined on a third tab attached to the bottom of the first panel, and wherein the fourth bearing surface is defined on a fourth tab attached to the bottom of the second panel. 45. The retractable cover system of claim 44, wherein the third tab is an offset tab and the fourth tab is a straight tab. 46. The retractable cover system of claim 45, wherein the first tab is a straight tab and the second tab is an offset tab, wherein the first and the third tabs are combined on a first tab piece, and wherein the second and the fourth tabs are combined on a second tab piece. 47. The retractable cover system of claim 46, wherein the first tab piece and the second tab piece are each a common tab piece. 48. The retractable cover system of claim 47, wherein the common tab piece includes an orientation feature that prevents assembly to the panels in an incorrect orientation. 49. The retractable cover system of claim 47, wherein the common tab piece is attached to the panels with staggered fasteners to save space between the first and the second panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration. 50. A retractable cover system adapted to cover a pickup truck box when in a deployed configuration and adapted to retract to a stowed configuration, the retractable cover system comprising: a plurality of pivots each including a first pivot joint member and a second pivot joint member, each of the first pivot joint members connected to a first guide element and each of the second pivot joint members connected to a second guide element;a first rail upon which the first guide elements ride;a second rail upon which the second guide elements ride;a plurality of panels extending along a width between a first side and a second side, the first side supported by the first guide elements on the first rail and the second side supported by the second guide elements on the second rail, each of the panels extending along a respective length between a respective front and a respective back, and the panels of adjacent pairs of the panels pivotally attached to one another at a corresponding pivot of the plurality of pivots; andconnecting structures that share load capacity between the panels of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the deployed configuration and do not share the load capacity between the panels of the adjacent pairs of the panels when the retractable cover system is in the stowed configuration.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (14)
Bernardo, Richard Gregory; Bernardo, Brandon G., Hard folding tonneau cover.
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Marvin Herbert Z. (9860 SW. 102nd St. Miami FL 33176) Lohman Edmond L. (9644 SW. 99th St. Miami FL 33176) Lohman Robert C. (3570 SW. 123rd Ct. Miami FL 33175), Sliding cover assembly for open body trucks.
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