Removable canopy cover

• US 4,799,726 A
• Filed: 03/21/1988
• Issued: 01/24/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aerocover, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Warn Industries Incorporated (LKQ Corporation)
• Inventors: Scott, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US07/170,836
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 296/10, 296/26, 296/27, 296/99 R, 296/100, 296/105, 296/164, 296/165, 296/175
• US Class Current: 296/100.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/106 readily detachable hard-tops storage compartment for collapsible flexible tops B60J7/20

Abstract

A removable canopy cover for an open truck bed. A cap having an inverted U-shaped rearwardly directed edge is provided over the front end of the bed, and a movable hoop having a forwardly directed edge is provided over the rear of the truck bed. The inwardly directed edges of the side walls, cap and hoop are channeled to receive the conforming edges of a multiple panel cover. The panels are foldable for compact storage and when unfolded, conform to the corresponding inwardly directed edges of the cap, hoop and side walls. The rear hoop is moved rearwardly, the cover positioned at the edges of the cap and the side walls, and the hoop pushed forward to trap and interconnect the cover as between the side walls, cap and hoop. A locking member in the form of a support bar extends between the hoop and cap. The support bar telescopes to permit the rearward movement of the hoop and includes a lock member that locks the bar against telescoping as desired.

Claims

1. An open truck bed having a removable canopy thereon comprising;

a truck bed defining a load carrying area, said walls projected along the sides of said area extending from the front of said area to the rear of said area, a cap attached to the truck bed over the front of said area having rearwardly projected edge means configured substantially in the form of an inverted U, a rear hoop movably attached to the truck bed over the rear of said area and having forwardly projected edge means configured substantially in the form of an inverted U, a cover configured substantially of an inverted U and having a forwardly projected edge portion that is captured by the rearwardly projected edge means of the cap and a rearwardly projected edge that is captured by the forwardly projected edge means of the rear hoop, said side walls of the truck bed having upper edge means, said cover having lower edges that are respectively captured by the upper edge means of the side walls, said lower edges each standing the distance from the hoop to the cap, and sealing means engaging the captured edges of the cover and the respective edge means of the cap, hoop and side walls for enclosing the area of the truck bed, said cover being removable from capture by the respective edge means by rearward movement of the hoop to permit disengagement of the sealing means, and locking means locking said cover in place by locking the hoop against said rearward movement.

2. An open truck bed as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means is a support bar that extends between the hoop and cap, said support bar having telescoping elongate elements that varies the length of said support bar and permits thereby the rearward movement of the hoop, and means to fix the elongate elements against telescoping action at a desired locking position for selectively locking the cover in place.

3. An open truck bed as defined in claim 2 wherein the cover is comprised of multiple interconnected panels, said panels having hinge connections that permit folding and unfolding of the panels between an inverted U configuration for covering the truck bed and a collapsed position for compact storage.

4. An open truck bed as defined in claim 3 wherein the cover is comprised of interconnected transparent panels and the hinge connections are continuous flexible straps adhered to the panels to seal the juncture between the panels against moisture leakage.

5. An open truck bed as defined in claim 4 wherein the sealing means are continuous sealing loops provided along exposed edges of the panels, and said respective edge means are channel members for receiving said sealing loops and thereby sealing said edge means to the panels and thereby preventing moisture leakage.

6. An open truck bed as defined in claim 5 wherein the rear hoop is provided with a configured groove at its bottom side edges that slidingly receive the channels of the side wall edge means for sliding engagement of the rear hoop along the side walls, and further locking means for locking the rear hoop to the side wall channels.

7. An open truck bed as defined in claim 6 wherein the further locking means for the rear hoop is a lock screw that projects through the rear hoop and against the channel member.

8. An open truck bed as defined in claim 7 wherein the channel member of the truck bed side walls extend beneath the cap, said cap having lower edges with configured grooves that slidingly receive the channel members whereby the cap can be slid forward from the rear of the truck bed and into place at the forward end thereof.