HARD ROLL-UP TONNEAU

• US 20130093206A1
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TruXedo Incorporated (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ryan Rusher
• Inventors: Spencer, Michael R., RUSHER, RYAN
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/100.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/085 winding up, e.g. for utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/141 for covering load areas, e.g. for pick-up trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/02 Covering of load
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/04 by tarpaulins or like flexible members

Abstract

A tonneau system for a pickup bed comprising a bracket system connectable with a sidewall of the pickup bed and a plurality of hingeable sections pivotally coupled to each other to define a continuous surface. Each of the plurality of hingeable sections being connected to adjacent hingeable sections to permit at least some of the plurality of hingeable sections to be rolled together into a generally circular cross-section to selectively reveal the pickup bed.

Claims

1. A tonneau system for a pickup bed, said tonneau system comprising:

a bracket system connectable with a sidewall of the pickup bed; and

a plurality of hingeable sections being pivotally coupled to each other to define a continuous surface supported by said bracket system, each of said plurality of hingeable sections having a hinge member connecting adjacent ones of said plurality of hingeable sections to permit at least some of said plurality of hingeable sections to be rolled together into a generally circular cross-section to selectively reveal the pickup bed, said generally circular cross-section being disposed substantially above said bracket system, at least one of said plurality of hingeable sections being selectively coupled to said bracket system.

2. The tonneau system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cover member spanning said plurality of hingeable sections.

3. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein at least two of said plurality of hingeable sections each comprises a channel extending along a first end and an opposing second end thereof, said channels of said adjacent ones of said at least two hingeable sections receiving said hinge member therein.

4. The tonneau system according to claim 3 wherein said hinge member comprises channel sections received within said channels of said adjacent ones of said plurality of hingeable sections.

5. The tonneau system according to claim 3 wherein said channel sections of said hinge member and said channels of said adjacent ones of said plurality of hingeable sections are each cylindrically shaped.

6. The tonneau system according to claim 3 wherein said channel sections of said hinge member and said channels of said adjacent ones of said plurality of hingeable sections are each rectangularly shaped.

7. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein at least two of said plurality of hingeable sections each comprises a V-shaped section extending along a first end and an opposing second end thereof, said V-shaped sections of said adjacent ones of said at least two hingeable sections being sized to complementary engage each other to generally resist relative misalignment of said adjacent ones of said at least two hingeable sections.

8. The tonneau system according to claim 7 wherein said V-shaped sections are positioned between a plane defined by an upper surface of said plurality of hingeable sections and a plane defined by a lower surface of said plurality of hingeable sections.

9. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein said bracket system is mountable to a top surface of the sidewall of the pickup bed such that a lower surface of said plurality of hingeable sections extends along the top surface of the sidewall.

10. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein said hinge section is a living hinge.

11. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein said hinge section comprises:

a first arcuate arm extending from a first of said plurality of hingeable sections;

an arcuate channel extending from a second of said plurality of hingeable sections, said arcuate channel receiving said first arcuate arm therein to provide rotational movement between said first of said plurality of hingeable sections and said second of said plurality of hingeable sections.

12. The tonneau system according to claim 11 wherein said arcuate channel comprises:

a second arcuate arm extending from said second of said plurality of hingeable sections;

a third arcuate arm coaxial aligned with said second arcuate arm; and

an end section interconnecting said second arcuate arm and said third arcuate arm,

said second arcuate arm and said third arcuate arm receiving said first arcuate arm therebetween.

13. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein a first of said plurality of hingeable sections defines a width along a pickup bed longitudinal direction that is narrower than a width of a second of said plurality of hingeable sections.

14. The tonneau system according to claim 13 wherein said first of the plurality of hingeable sections is disposed more rearward along said pickup bed longitudinal direction than said second of said plurality of hingeable sections.