Tonneau cover system

• US 20060208524A1
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Global Accessories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Global Accessories Incorporated
• Inventors: Rippberger, Gary, Brown, Jeffery O.
• Application Number:
  US11/347,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20060208524A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/100.10
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/104 Fastening means for tarpaulins

Abstract

A support frame clamp for a truck bed tonneau covering system comprises a hanger, slidably adjustable within a support bow configured to span two side rails of a truck bed to support a tonneau cover over the truck bed. A clamp assembly is operable to engage a portion of one of the side rails of the truck. A connector interconnects the clamp assembly and the hanger.

Claims

1. A support frame clamp for a truck bed tonneau covering system, comprising:

a hanger, slidably adjustable within a support bow configured to span two side rails of a truck bed to support a tonneau cover over the truck bed;

a clamp assembly, operable to engage a portion of one of the side rails of the truck; and

a connector, interconnecting the clamp assembly and the hanger.

2. The support frame clamp of claim 1, wherein the hanger is operably positionable along the support bow in a plurality of positions.

3. The support frame clamp of claim 1, wherein the hanger includes an outer housing slidably moveable relative to the support bow, and an inner receiver rotatable with respect to the outer housing.

4. The support frame clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp assembly includes at least two interlocked positions:

a clamped interlocked position, and a released interlocked position.

5. The support frame clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp assembly includes a cam housing having a cam rotatably coupled thereto and a cam lever extending from the cam.

6. The support frame clamp of claim 5, further comprising a fulcrum barrel rotatably coupled to the cam housing.

7. The support frame clamp of claim 6, wherein the connector is adjustably coupled to the fulcrum barrel.

8. The support frame clamp of claim 5, further comprising a bearing coupled within the cam housing, the cam having a contact surface engageable with the bearing.

9. The support frame clamp of claim 8, wherein the connector is slidably engaged through the bearing and threadably engaged with the fulcrum barrel.

10. The support frame clamp of claim 5, wherein the cam includes a curved contact surface configured to engage a bearing, the curved contact surface including a first, outwardly arching segment capable of generating a clamping force as the cam rotates, and a second, inwardly arched segment configured to receive the bearing in a nesting relationship to retain the cam in a clamped position.

11. A support frame clamp for a truck bed tonneau covering system, comprising:

a clamp assembly, configured to be removably clamped to a portion of a side rail of a truck bed, the clamp assembly including;

a cam housing having a cam rotatably coupled thereto;

the cam being operable to apply a clamping force between the clamp assembly and the portion of the side rail of the truck as the cam is rotated relative to the cam housing, the cam having a continuously arcuately shaped contact surface such that a clamping force generated by rotation of the cam gradually decreases from a maximum clamping force to a holding clamping force as the clamp assembly is clamped to the portion of the side rail of the truck.

12. The support frame clamp of claim 11, further comprising:

a hanger, slidably adjustable within a support bow configured to span two side rails of the truck bed to support a tonneau cover over the truck bed; and

a connector, interconnecting the clamp assembly and the hanger.

13. The support frame clamp of claim 12, wherein the hanger includes an outer housing slidably moveable relative to the support bow, and an inner receiver rotatable with respect to the outer housing.

14. The support frame clamp of claim 12, further comprising a fulcrum barrel rotatably coupled to the cam housing.

15. The support frame clamp of claim 14, wherein the connector is adjustably coupled to the fulcrum barrel.

16. The support frame clamp of claim 14, further comprising a bearing coupled within the cam housing, the cam having a contact surface engageable with the bearing.

17. The support frame clamp of claim 16, wherein the connector is slidably engaged through the bearing and threadably engaged with the fulcrum barrel.

18. A truck bed tonneau covering system, comprising:

a tonneau cover;

a tonneau support frame assembly, including;

at least one tonneau side rail configured to be disposed adjacent side rails of a truck bed; and

at least one tonneau cover support bow, configured to span between two side rails of the truck bed to support the tonneau cover over the truck bed; and

at least one support frame clamp assembly, operable to removably attach the tonneau cover support bow to one of the side rails of the truck bed.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a hanger, slidably adjustable within the support bow; and

a connector, interconnecting the clamp assembly and the hanger.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the clamp assembly includes a cam housing having a cam rotatably coupled thereto and a cam lever extending from the cam.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a fulcrum barrel rotatably coupled to the cam housing.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the connector is adjustably coupled to the fulcrum barrel.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a bearing coupled within the cam housing, the cam having a contact surface engageable with the bearing.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the connector is slidably engaged through the bearing and threadably engaged with the fulcrum barrel.