LOW VOLTAGE SYSTEM CONTROLLER FOR A TRUCK

• US 20200130485A1
• Filed: 10/23/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LEER Group
• Original Assignee: Truck Accessories Group, LLC (JB Poindexter & Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: IRELAND, Donald Richard, BECKER, Terrill D., BACON, Bruce Charles, HICKEY, Jeffrey Joal, BOS, Robert G.
• Granted Patent: US 11,433,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/062 for utility vehicles B60J7/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1607 for covering load areas, e.g. rigid panels for pick-up truck beds
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/198 for locking tonneau covers such as covers for roof storage compartments or for pick-up truck beds
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/10 Connections between movable lock parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

A truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck is provided. The truck cap assembly may include a cap that sets on opposing side walls of the truck; a cap door located on the cap; a latch bar located on the cap; a controller located on the cap door; and a latch release assembly which includes a motor and a latch arm. The controller is in electrical communication with a motor actuator that is coupled to a latch arm. A signal from the controller activates the motor to move the latch arm. The latch arm is releasable from the latch bar to release the cap door.

Claims

1. A truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the truck cap assembly comprising:

a cap that sets on opposing side walls of the truck;

a cap door located on the cap;

at least one latch bar located on the cap;

a latch release assembly attached to the cap door; and

a controller located on the cap door;

wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the latch release assembly;

wherein the latch release assembly includes a motor actuator, a clip, and a rotary latch;

wherein the clip is movable by the motor and is coupled to the rotary latch;

wherein a signal from the controller activates the motor which moves the clip;

wherein the rotary latch includes a latch arm that is movable about a pivot pin;

wherein the latch arm of the rotary latch is engagable with and releaseable from the latch bar;

wherein as the motor moves the clip, the clip moves the latch arm to cause the latch arm to pivot about the pivot pin which releases the latch arm from the latch bar to release the cap door.

2. The truck cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one prop attached to the cap and the cap door.

3. The truck cap assembly of claim 1, wherein when the latch arm is released from the latch bar the latch arm pushes against latch bar to separate at least a portion of the cap door from the cap.

4. The truck cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one prop attached to the cap and the cap door, wherein when the latch arm is released from the latch bar, wherein the latch arm pushes against the latch bar to separate at least a portion of the cap door from the cap;

and wherein the prop moves the cap door to an open position.

5. The truck cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising an input device that sends a signal to the controller to release the latch arm from the latch bar to release the cap door, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting at least one of a keypad, a phone app, a key fob, a key, a Bluetooth device, a Wifi device, a RFID device, a NFC device, and a computer.

6. The truck cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip is pulled by the motor.

7. The truck cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second latch release assembly attached to the cap door spaced apart from the latch release assembly, wherein the second latch release assembly includes a motor actuator, a clip, and a rotary latch, wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the second latch release assembly, wherein the signal from the controller activates the motor of the second latch release assembly which moves the clip which moves a latch arm to cause the latch arm to pivot about the pivot pin which releases the latch arm from the a second latch bar on the cap to release the cap door.

8. The truck cap assembly of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical override assembly located on the cap door which comprises:

a rotating member, a first cable is attached to a first post on the rotating member, wherein the first post is offset from an axis extending through the rotating member, wherein the first cable is attached to the latch arm of the rotary latch of the latch release assembly so that as the rotating member rotates the first cable moves to move the latch arm of the rotary latch of the latch release assembly to release from the latch bar.

9. The truck cap assembly of claim 8, further comprising a key cylinder that is rotated which rotates a rotating member.

10. The truck cap assembly of claim 7, further comprising a mechanical override assembly located on the cap door, the mechanical override assembly comprises:

a rotating member, a first cable attached to a first post on the rotating member, a second cable attached to a second post on the rotating member, wherein the first and second posts are located offset from an axis of rotation of the rotating member, wherein the first cable is attached to the latch arm of the rotary latch of the latch release assembly and the second cable is attached to the latch arm of the rotary latch of the second latch release assembly, wherein as the rotating member rotates both first and second cables move so the first cable moves the latch arm of the rotary latch of the latch release assembly to release from the latch bar and the second cable moves the latch arm of the rotary latch of the second latch release assembly to release from the second latch bar.

11. The truck cap assembly of claim 10, further comprising a key cylinder that is rotated which rotates a rotating member.

12. A truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the truck cap assembly comprising:

a cap that sets on opposing side walls of the truck;

a cap door located on the cap;

a latch bar located on the cap; and

a controller located on the cap door; and

a latch release assembly which includes a motor and a latch arm;

wherein the controller is in electrical communication with a motor actuator that is coupled to a latch arm;

wherein a signal from the controller activates the motor to move the latch arm; and

wherein the latch arm is releaseable from the latch bar to release the cap door.

13. The truck cap assembly of claim 12, further comprising at least one prop attached to the cap and the cap door.

14. The truck cap assembly of claim 12, wherein when the latch arm is released from the latch bar, and wherein the latch arm pushes against latch bar to separate at least a portion of the cap door from the cap.

15. The truck cap assembly of claim 12, further comprising at least one prop attached to the cap and the cap door, wherein when the latch arm is released from the latch bar the latch arm pushes against latch bar to separate at least a portion of the cap door from the cap;

and wherein the prop moves the cap door to an open position.

16. The truck cap assembly of claim 12, further comprising an input device that sends a signal to the controller to release the latch arm from the latch bar to release the cap door, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting at least one of a keypad, a phone app, a key fob, a key, a Bluetooth device, a Wifi device, a RFID device, a NFC device, and a computer.

17. A truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the truck cap assembly comprising:

a cap that sets on opposing side walls of the truck;

a cap door located on the cap;

a latch bar; and

a latch release assembly which includes a motor and a latch arm;

wherein the motor selectively moves the latch arm; and

wherein the latch arm is releaseable from the latch bar to release the cap door.

18. The track cap assembly of claim 17, wherein the latch bar is located on the cap and the latch release assembly is located on the cap door.

19. The track cap assembly of claim 17, wherein the latch bar is located on the cap door and the latch release assembly is located on the cap.

20. A method of opening a truck cap door located on a truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the method comprising the steps of:

powering a controller;

determining if the controller has timed out, by determining if a wake command has been issued, wherein if no wake command issued controller proceeds to a sleep mode;

determining what type of device has created the wake command, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a wired input and a wireless input, wherein if the signal is generated by the wired input the controller determines if a correct predetermined sequence has been entered, wherein if the predetermined sequence is incorrect, a signal is initiated and the controller proceeds to await mode;

energizing a power relay from a battery to an actuator circuit if the predetermined sequence is correct;

energizing an actuator from the actuator circuit;

moving a clip by the energized actuator which moves a latch arm;

releasing a latch bar from the latch arm which unlatches at least a portion of the cap door from the cap; and

de-energizing the actuator which returns the controller to the wait mode.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising the additional step of:

energizing the power relay from the battery to the actuator circuit if the signal is generated by the wireless input to the controller.

22. The method of claim 20, comprising the additional step of:

wherein if the predetermined sequence is not a correct predetermined sequence no signal is sent to the power relay to provide power to the actuator circuit, pairing the wireless device.