Rolling Tonneau Cover

• US 20200130487A1
• Filed: 10/17/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LEER Group
• Original Assignee: Truck Accessories Group, LLC (JB Poindexter & Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dylewski, II, Eugene A., Mattison, Christopher David, Bevis, III, John William
• Granted Patent: US 11,084,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/085 winding up, e.g. for utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/104 Fastening means for tarpaulins
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/141 for covering load areas, e.g. for pick-up trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1858 for locking soft tops to a surrounding rigid roof structure, e.g. to a closed vehicle body B60J7/1291 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/047 collapsible by rolling-up

Abstract

A tonneau cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck is provided. The tonneau cover assembly includes a cover and a longitudinally extending rail located adjacent a sidewall of the truck bed. The longitudinally extending rail includes an attachment member. The attachment member extends longitudinally along with the rail and at least a portion of the attachment member is located over a portion of the bed. The cover includes a stiffener located adjacent the attachment member of the longitudinally extending rail.

Claims

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

a cover; and

a longitudinally extending rail located adjacent a sidewall of the truck bed;

wherein the longitudinally extending rail includes an attachment member;

wherein at least a portion of the attachment member has a planar body;

wherein the attachment member extends longitudinally with the longitudinally extending rail and the at least a portion of the attachment member is located over a portion of the truck bed;

wherein the at least a portion of the attachment member is inclined with respect to a top surface of the sidewall;

wherein the cover includes a stiffener located on an underside of the cover and adjacent the attachment member of the longitudinally extending rail;

wherein the stiffener has a body that is more rigid than the cover;

wherein the stiffener includes a depending rib extending from the stiffener toward the attachment member; and

wherein the rib engages a surface of the attachment member to space apart a portion of the cover from the attachment member.

2. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is made of a flexible material.

3. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment member includes an attachment slot sized and configured to receive a portion of a hook and loop fastener.

4. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the stiffener is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of at least one of an extruded rubber and a thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the stiffener and rib extend longitudinally adjacent the attachment member.

6. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hook and loop fastener oriented transversely to the top surface of the sidewall to create a tension force.

7. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the rail includes a bracket that extends downwardly with respect to the attachment member and located adjacent the sidewall.

8. A tonneau cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the tonneau cover assembly comprising:

a cover; and

a longitudinally extending rail located adjacent a sidewall of the truck bed;

wherein the longitudinally extending rail includes an attachment member;

wherein at least a portion of the attachment member has a planar body;

wherein the attachment member extends longitudinally along with the rail and the at least a portion of the attachment member is located over a portion of the bed;

wherein the cover includes a stiffener located adjacent the attachment member of the longitudinally extending rail;

wherein the stiffener includes a rib extending from the stiffener; and

wherein the rib contacts a surface of the attachment.

9. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least a portion of the attachment member is inclined with respect to a top surface the sidewall.

10. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 8, wherein the stiffener is located on an underside of the cover.

11. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 8, wherein the stiffener has a body that is more rigid than the cover.

12. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 8, wherein the rib extends downwardly from the stiffener.

13. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 8, wherein the rib separates a portion of the cover from the attachment member.

14. A tonneau cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the tonneau cover assembly comprising:

a cover;

wherein a portion of the cover includes a longitudinally extending stiffener;

wherein the longitudinally extending stiffener includes a rib extending from the longitudinally extending stiffener; and

wherein the rib contacts a surface of the attachment.

15. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 14, further comprising a longitudinally extending rail located adjacent a sidewall of the truck bed.

16. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 15, wherein the longitudinally extending rail includes an attachment member, wherein at least a portion of the attachment member has a planar body.

17. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 16, wherein the attachment member extends longitudinally with the rail and the at least a portion of the attachment member is located over a portion of the truck bed.

18. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 17, wherein the stiffener is located on an underside surface of the cover and located adjacent the attachment member of the longitudinally extending rail.

19. A tonneau cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the tonneau cover assembly comprising:

a cover; and

a longitudinally extending rail located adjacent a sidewall of the truck bed;

wherein the longitudinally extending rail includes an attachment member;

wherein at least a portion of the attachment member has a planar body;

wherein the attachment member extends longitudinally along the rail;

wherein the at least a portion of the attachment member is inclined with respect to a top surface the sidewall; and

wherein the cover includes a stiffener located on an underside of the cover and adjacent the attachment member of the longitudinally extending rail.

20. The tonneau cover assembly of claim 19, wherein the stiffener has a body that is more rigid than the cover.