Vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck

• US 10,112,465 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Flocco
• Original Assignee: Richard Flocco
• Inventors: Flocco, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US15/455,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20180257466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 296 377, 296 378, 29610016, 29610001, 160188, 160201, 307 101, 341176
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/104 Fastening means for tarpaulins
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/04 by tarpaulins or like flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/083 Tensioning by repetetive movement of an actuating member
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/048 Advertisement panels on sides, front or back of vehicles

Abstract

A vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck. The cargo bed of the pickup truck is defined by a pair of side walls having tops, respectively, and a tailgate to access the cargo bed of the pickup truck. The top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a pair of ends. Each end of the top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a through bore therein. The vented tonneau covering includes netting that covers the cargo bed of the pickup truck, and an apparatus that holds down the netting over the cargo bed of the pickup truck.

Claims

1. A vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck, wherein the cargo bed of the pickup truck is defined by a pair of side walls having tops, respectively, and a tailgate to access the cargo bed of the pickup truck, wherein the top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a pair of ends, wherein each end of the top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a through bore therein, and wherein said vented tonneau covering comprising:

a) netting for covering the cargo bed of the pickup truck; and

b) means for holding down the netting over the cargo bed of the pickup truck;

wherein said netting is rectilinear-shaped;

wherein said netting has a pair of axial boundaries;

wherein said netting is for overlying the cargo bed of the pickup truck, while each axial boundary of said netting is for resting upon the top of a respective side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck, wherein said netting contains a plurality of through bores;

wherein said plurality of through bores of said netting is for allowing the cargo bed of the pickup truck to vent and breathe.

2. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein said plurality of through bores of said netting are formed in a matrix.

3. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein each through bore of said netting is round.

4. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein each through bore of said netting has a diameter of about 1″

for preventing debris being carried in the cargo bed of the pickup truck from existing therethrough during motion of the pickup truck.

5. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein said netting is made from at least one of heavy duty plastic and nylon.

6. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein said netting contains printed matter for purposes including advertisement.

7. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein said means includes a pair of ratchet hold downs.

8. The vented tonneau cover of claim 7, wherein each ratchet holds down of said means includes a ratchet assembly.

9. The vented tonneau cover of claim 8, wherein each ratchet hold down of said means includes a strap with a pair of ends.

10. The vented tonneau cover of claim 9, wherein said pair of ends of the strap of said ratchet assembly of each ratchet hold down of said means engages an associated pair of axially aligned through bores at the pair of ends of the top of the associated side wall, either by hooks and/or loops, depending upon truck vintage and/or owner'"'"'s preference.

11. The vented tonneau cover of claim 9, wherein said ratchet assembly of each ratchet hold down of said means is operatively connected to, so as to tighten and loosen, the strap of an associated ratchet hold down of said means.

12. The vented tonneau cover of claim 9, wherein said strap of each ratchet hold down of said means is for only running along the top of a respective side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck and over a respective axial boundary of the netting so as to sandwich the netting therebetween, and in so doing, maintaining the netting taunt.