Tonneau cover system

• US 20060043758A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Powell, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/107.80
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/203 the cover part comprising cover side flaps

Abstract

A tonneau cover system uses a unique and novel way to control the movement of a side cover. The system utilizes a drum that is coupled to the side cover and a cable which is coupled to the drum. Movement of the cable causes the side cover to move between open and closed positions. The cable can be coupled to a retractable roof. Movement of the retractable roof between raised and stowed positions causes the side cover of the tonneau cover system to move between its open and closed positions.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle system comprising:

a retractable roof system including a retractable roof moveable between a raised position and stowed position; and

a tonneau cover system having a cover operable between open and closed positions to respectively allow access to and cover a portion of a compartment,

wherein partial movement of said retractable roof between said raised and stowed positions causes said cover to move completely between its open and closed positions.

2. The automotive vehicle system of claim 1, wherein said retractable roof system includes a roof cover and a top stack mechanism operable to move said retractable roof between said raised and stowed positions, and movement of said top stack mechanism causing said cover to move between its open and closed positions.

3. The automotive vehicle system of claim 2, wherein said top stack mechanism includes a plurality of roof rails and movement of one of said roof rails causing said cover to move between its open and closed positions.

4. The automotive vehicle system of claim 3, wherein movement of a rearmost roof rail of said top stack mechanism causes said cover to move between its open and closed positions.

5. The automotive vehicle system of claim 2, wherein a cable interconnects said top stack mechanism to said cover.

6. The automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said cover is mechanically linked to said retractable roof.

7. The automotive vehicle of claim 6, wherein said cover is mechanically linked to said retractable roof with a cable.

8. The automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said cover pivots between its open and closed positions.

9. The automotive vehicle of claim 8, wherein said cover is a first cover, said tonneau cover system includes a second cover operable between open and closed positions to cover a portion of a compartment, and said first cover is pivotally coupled to said second cover.

10. The automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said cover is in its open position when said retractable roof is in said raised position and said cover is in its closed position when said retractable roof is in said stowed position.

11. The automotive vehicle system of claim 1, wherein said cover begins to move between said open and closed positions immediately upon movement of said retractable roof from a fully raised position toward said stowed position.

12. An automotive vehicle system comprising:

a retractable roof system including a retractable roof moveable between a raised position and stowed position; and

a tonneau cover system having a cover operable between open and closed positions to respectively allow access to and cover a portion of a compartment,

wherein said cover begins to move from said open position toward said closed position immediately upon initiation of movement of said retractable roof from a fully raised position toward said stowed position.

13. The tonneau cover system of claim 12, wherein said cover is a first cover, said tonneau cover system includes a second cover operable between open and closed positions to cover a portion of a compartment, and said first cover is pivotally coupled to said second cover.

14. An automotive vehicle system comprising:

a retractable roof system including a retractable roof moveable between a raised position and stowed position; and

a tonneau cover system having a cover operable between open and closed positions to respectively allow access to and cover a portion of a compartment,

wherein said cover remains in said closed position during initial movement of said retractable roof from said stowed position toward said raised position.

15. The tonneau cover system of claim 14, wherein said cover is a first cover, said tonneau cover system includes a second cover operable between open and closed positions to cover a portion of a compartment, and said first cover is pivotally coupled to said second cover.

16. A tonneau cover system comprising:

a cover operable between open and closed positions to selectively cover a portion of a compartment;

a drum coupled to said cover; and

a cable coupled to said drum, movement of said cable causing said cover to move between its open and closed positions.

17. The tonneau cover system of claim 16, wherein said drum is pivotally coupled to said cover.

18. The tonneau cover system of claim 17, wherein said drum is operable to rotate relative to said cover.

19. The tonneau cover system of claim 18, wherein said drum has a projection that engages with said cover so that said drum and said cover rotate together.

20. The tonneau cover system of claim 19, wherein said projection engages with said cover to move said cover from its closed position to its open position.

21. The tonneau cover system of claim 18, wherein rotation of said drum relative to said cover takes up slack in said cable.

22. The tonneau cover system of claim 17, further comprising a biasing member operable to bias said drum to a desired position relative to said cover.

23. The tonneau cover system of claim 16, wherein said cover is a first cover and further comprising a second cover operable between open and closed positions to selectively cover a portion of a compartment, and said first cover is pivotally coupled to said second cover.

24. The tonneau cover system of claim 23, wherein said second cover is larger than said first cover.

25. The tonneau cover system of claim 16, wherein said cover includes a frame and a garnish member attached to said frame, and said drum is coupled to said frame.

26. The tonneau cover system of claim 16, wherein said cover pivots between its open and closed positions.

27. A roof cover for an automotive vehicle, the roof cover comprising:

a primary cover operable between primary cover open and closed positions, said primary cover covering a portion of a storage area in a vehicle when in said closed position;

a secondary cover coupled to said primary cover and moving with movement of said primary cover between said primary cover open and closed postions, said secondary cover moveable between secondary cover open and closed positions relative to said primary cover, said secondary cover including;

(i) a first surface having a first exterior contour; and

(ii) a second surface offset from first surface and always moving with movement of said first surface, said second surface having a second exterior contour different than said first exterior contour of said first surface,

wherein said first exterior contour substantially matches a first portion of an exterior contour of said primary cover and said second exterior contour substantially matches a second portion of an exterior contour of said primary cover.

28. The roof cover of claim 27, wherein said second portion of an exterior contour of said primary cover is configured to receive a portion of a convertible roof when in said primary cover closed position.

29. The roof cover of claim 27, wherein said secondary cover is one of a plurality of secondary covers coupled to said primary cover.

30. An automotive vehicle cover system, said cover system comprising a cover operable between open and closed positions to selectively cover a portion of a storage area of an automotive vehicle, said cover including:

(i) a carrier having front and rear portions, said rear portion configured to be coupled to a component of an automotive vehicle and said carrier operable between said open and closed positions; and

(ii) a cover piece coupled to said carrier and moving with movement of said carrier between said open and closed positions, said cover piece forming a portion of an exterior surface of said cover.

31. The cover system of claim 30, wherein said rear portion of said carrier is pivotally coupled to a component of an automotive vehicle and said carrier pivots between said open and closed positions.

32. The cover system of claim 30, wherein said rear portion of said carrier pivots about a transverse pivot axis.

33. The cover system of claim 30, wherein said cover is a secondary cover and further comprising a primary cover configured to be coupled to an automotive vehicle and movable between primary cover open and closed positions, said rear portion of said carrier is coupled to said primary cover and is operable between secondary cover open and closed positions relative to said primary cover.

34. The cover system of claim 30, wherein said cover piece forms a majority portion of an exterior surface of said cover.

35. A method of operating a retractable roof and tonneau cover system, the method comprising:

(a) driving movement of the cover between open and closed positions with movement of the retractable roof between raised and stowed positions; and

(b) moving the cover between a fully open position and a fully closed position with partial movement of the retractable roof between said raised and stowed positions.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein (a) includes driving movement of the cover with a cable coupled to the retractable roof and to the cover.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein a rotatable drum is coupled to the cover and to said cable and (a) includes rotating said drum with said cable by moving the retractable roof.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein (a) includes rotating said drum relative to the cover during a portion of the movement of the retractable roof between said raised and stowed positions and rotating the cover with rotation of said drum during a different portion of the movement of the retractable roof between said raised and stowed positions.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the cover is a secondary cover and the retractable roof and tonneau cover system includes a primary cover moveable between open and closed positions to allow the retractable roof to move between said raised and stowed positions, said secondary cover is pivotally coupled to said primary cover and (a) includes moving said secondary cover relative to said primary cover.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the retractable roof and tonneau cover system includes a top stack mechanism operable to move the retractable roof between said raised and stowed positions and (a) includes driving movement of the cover between said open and closed positions with the movement of said top stack mechanism.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein (a) includes driving movement of the cover between said open and closed positions with the movement of a rearmost roof rail of said top stack mechanism.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein (a) includes moving the cover to said closed position by moving the retractable roof from said raised position to said stowed position and moving the cover to said open position by moving the retractable roof from said stowed position to said raised position.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein (a) includes pivotally moving the cover between said open and closed positions.

44. A method of operating a retractable roof and tonneau cover system, the method comprising:

(a) driving movement of the cover between open and closed positions with movement of the retractable roof between raised and stowed positions; and

(b) immediately driving movement of the cover from said open position toward said closed position upon initiation of movement of the retractable roof from a fully raised position toward said stowed position.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the cover is a secondary cover and the retractable roof and tonneau cover system includes a primary cover moveable between open and closed positions to allow the retractable roof to move between said raised and stowed positions, said secondary cover is pivotally coupled to said primary cover and (a) includes moving said secondary cover relative to said primary cover.

46. A method of operating a tonneau cover system having a primary cover and a secondary cover coupled to the primary cover, the method comprising:

(a) moving the primary cover between primary cover open and closed positions;

(b) moving the secondary cover between secondary cover open and closed positions; and

(c) urging the secondary cover in two different directions with two biasing members.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein a pivotal drum is coupled to the secondary cover and (c) includes engaging said drum with one of said biasing members and urging the secondary cover in one direction with said drum.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein (c) includes directly engaging said cover with a different one of said biasing members and urging the secondary cover to said secondary cover closed position with said different one of said biasing members.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein (c) includes urging the secondary cover in two opposing directions.