Slat block and guide track apparatus for rolling truck bed cover

• US 5,330,246 A
• Filed: 11/18/1992
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roll-N-Lock Corp. (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Richard G. Bernardo
• Inventors: Bernardo, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US07/978,110
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 296/98, 296/100, 160/133, 160/232, 160/235, 160/236
• US Class Current: 296/98
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/068 for utility vehicles, e.g. of tarpaulin or roller-blind type
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/17 Parts or details of roller shutters, e.g. suspension devices, shutter boxes, wicket doors, ventilation openings

Abstract

A water resistant, retractable slatted rolling truck utility bed cover for jam-free and noise-free operation. A slat end block is permanently attached to each slat end, the slats being hinged in a side-by-side array forming the cover body. The blocks reduce vibration, eliminate thumping noise and improve the sliding action of the cover body by acting as an end bearing surface. The bottom surface of each slat block includes an arcuate curvature along the length thereof that, when used in conjunction with sloping passageway entrance of the guide tracks, provides a simplified non-jam closure. Each slat block includes grooves to divert water to the guide tracks away from the truck bed interior.

Claims

1. A slat block for use with a slat in a rolling, retractable truck bed cover, said cover made from a plurality of elongated slats, each slat having a pair of slat ends, a slat surface bottom, and a slat surface top, said slats having hinges, each hinge terminating at each end in a hinge end on opposing longitudinal sides that interlock, said slats interconnected in a side-by-side array for covering the utility bed of a pickup truck and slidably mounted in parallel guide tracks attached to opposing truck bed walls, each guide track having an entrance, comprising:

a rigid body sized in length for mounting between adjacent slat hinges, sized in width to extend at least one inch inwardly from a slat end, and sized in thickness to extend from the slat surface bottom in predetermined areas to at least the extent of a hinge thickness, said slat block including an end cap at one end integrally formed with said rigid body and extending beyond a portion of said rigid body in length and sized and contoured to cover said hinge end and the slat end whereby said slat block acts as a bearing surface for lateral restraint of independent movement and as a guide for smoothing the movement of the truck bed cover into and out of each guide track entrance;

said rigid body having an upper flat surface, a lower surface having a curved central portion, said end cap having a flat end face, said rigid body cured lower surface sized in curvature and length to provide smooth contact between said slat block and said guide track entrance to prevent jamming of said truck bed cover when said truck bed cover is moved relative to said guide track entrance.

2. A slat block as in claim 1, including:

means in said slat block for diverting liquid such as water received on top of said truck bed cover into said guide tracks to prevent liquid from being received into the truck bed body interior.

3. A slat block as in claim 2, wherein:

said means for diverting a liquid includes a groove extending from one side to the opposite side of said rigid body.

4. A slat block as in claim 1, including:

said rigid body flat upper surface having a groove extending from one side to the opposite side for diverting water, and said rigid body having at least one aperture for receiving a fastener so that said aperture is disposed between said rigid body flat upper surface groove and the end cap of said slat block.

5. A roll-up track bed cover comprising:

a plurality of elongated rigid slats each slat having a pair of ends and hinges, said slats hingedly connected in a side-by-side array forming a cover body that can be rolled up, said hinges protruding downwardly from the slat body surfaces;

a plurality of rigid slat blocks each having an end cap, one of each slat block connected at each end of a slat;

a pair of parallel guide tracks each having a substantially C-shaped channel, one of each mounted on opposite sides of the truck bed for receiving the slat blocks and slat ends, said guide track including a lower disposed plastic runner from end to end;

each of said slat blocks including an upper flat surface and a lower curved surface adjacent said end cap, said slat block including a groove in said slat block body for diverting water to prevent water from penetrating the truck bed cover body when the cover is in a closed position, said slat block end cap having a flat exterior wall surface that acts as a bearing surface against said guide track channel to prevent excessive independent lateral movement, whereby said guide tracks each having an entrance portion, said lower curved surface of each of said slat blocks permitting smooth contact to prevent jamming of said slats when slat ends are moved into said guide track entrance.

6. A device as in claim 5, including each of said slat blocks being made of molded plastic and being attached to said slats so that lateral contact between said slat blocks and said guide tracks is plastic to metal as a bearing surface for smooth noise free operation.

7. A device as in claim 5, wherein said entrance to said guide track has a lower sloping runner.

8. A rolling truck bed cover as in claim 5, including:

each of said slat blocks having a vertical channel for diverting water on said truck bed cover and a lateral groove in the upper block surface to divert water to said guide tracks away from said truck bed.