Vehicle tonneau cover clamp
First Claim
1. A clamp for attaching a tonneau cover rail to a sidewall of a truck, the clamp comprising:
- an outer clamp section having a first end configured for engaging an inner clamp section, and a second end configured for engaging a tonneau cover rail;
an inner clamp section nestably engaging the outer clamp section, the inner clamp section having a first end for engaging the outer clamp section, a second end disposed opposite the first end for engaging a sidewall of a truck, and a plurality of slots,a cam handle section for selectively connecting the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section, the cam handle section having a cam moveable between a first, closed position wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are drawn together with sufficient clamping force to hold a tonneau cover rail to a truck sidewall, and a second, open position, wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are not drawn together, and a handle for selectively moving the cam between the first, closed position and the second open position, andadjustment means for selectively controlling the distance between the second end of the outer clamp section and the second end of the inner clams section, said adjustment means comprising a bail-loop extending downwardly from the cam for selectively nesting in the slots of the inner clamp section.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved tonneau cover clamp includes an inner clamp section for engaging a pickup truck bed sidewall, an outer clamp section configured to hold a tonneau cover rail to the sidewall, and a cam handle section for selectively attaching the inner clamp section to the outer clamp section so as to provide a clamping force on the sidewall. The cam handle section is configured to engage one or both of the other two sections in such a manner as to facilitate adjustment between the two sections to adjust to top flanges of sidewalls having different thicknesses, thereby enabling a single clamp to be used with a variety of different truck brands and models.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A clamp for attaching a tonneau cover rail to a sidewall of a truck, the clamp comprising:
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an outer clamp section having a first end configured for engaging an inner clamp section, and a second end configured for engaging a tonneau cover rail; an inner clamp section nestably engaging the outer clamp section, the inner clamp section having a first end for engaging the outer clamp section, a second end disposed opposite the first end for engaging a sidewall of a truck, and a plurality of slots, a cam handle section for selectively connecting the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section, the cam handle section having a cam moveable between a first, closed position wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are drawn together with sufficient clamping force to hold a tonneau cover rail to a truck sidewall, and a second, open position, wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are not drawn together, and a handle for selectively moving the cam between the first, closed position and the second open position, and adjustment means for selectively controlling the distance between the second end of the outer clamp section and the second end of the inner clams section, said adjustment means comprising a bail-loop extending downwardly from the cam for selectively nesting in the slots of the inner clamp section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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8. A tonneau cover rail clamping system comprising
at least one clamp for attaching a tonneau cover rail to a sidewall of a truck, the clamp comprising: -
an outer clamp section having a first end configured for engaging an inner clamp section, and a second end configured for engaging a tonneau cover rail; an inner clamp section nestably engaging the outer clamp section, the inner clamp section having a first end for engaging the outer clamp section, a second end disposed opposite the first end for engaging a sidewall of a truck, and a plurality of slots, a cam handle section for selectively connecting the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section, the cam handle section having a cam moveable between a first, closed position wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are drawn together with sufficient clamping force to hold a tonneau cover rail to a truck sidewall, and a second, open position, wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are not drawn together, and a handle for selectively moving the cam between the first, closed position and the second open position, and adjustment means for selectively controlling the distance between the second end of the outer clamp section and the second end of the inner clamp section, said adjustment means comprising a bail-loop extending downwardly from the cam for selectively nesting in the slots of the inner clamp section, and a tonneau cover rail having at least one first rib disposed thereon, and wherein the second end of the outer clamp section comprises at least one second rib for engaging the at least one first rib of the tonneau cover rail. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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14. A clamp for holding a tonneau cover rail to a sidewall of a truck, the clamp comprising:
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an outer clamp member having a generally vertical portion and a generally horizontal portion, the vertical portion having a channel formed therein for receiving a portion of an inner clamp member, and the horizontal portion being configured for selectively engaging a tonneau cover rail; an inner clamp member having a U-shape with first and second generally vertical walls and a base wall for separating the generally vertical walls, the first generally vertical wall being configured for nestably sliding within the channel of the generally vertical portion of the outer clamp section, and the second generally vertical wall being configured for engaging a sidewall of a truck; and a cam handle section for selectively holding the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section together, the cam handle section comprising a cam positionable adjacent one of the clamp sections, and an adjustment mechanism attached to the cam and for engaging the other clamp section so as to draw the two clamp sections toward one another when the cam is rotated. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A clamp for attaching a tonneau cover rail to a sidewall of a truck, the clamp comprising:
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an outer clamp section having a first end configured for engaging an inner clamp section, and a second end configured for engaging a tonneau cover rail; an inner clamp section nestably engaging the outer clamp section, the inner clamp section having a first end for engaging the outer clamp section, a second end disposed opposite the first end for engaging a sidewall of a truck and a plurality of slots; a cam handle section for selectively connecting the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section, the cam handle section having a cam moveable between a first, closed position wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are drawn together with sufficient clamping force to hold a tonneau cover rail to a truck sidewall, and a second, open position, wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are not drawn together, and a handle for selectively moving the cam between the first, closed position and the second open position, adjustment means for selectively controlling the distance between the second end of the outer clamp section and the second end of the inner clamp section, said adjustment means comprising a bail-loop extending downwardly from the cam for selectively nesting in the slots of the inner clamp section, and wherein the outer clamp section includes a cam cavity for receiving the cam of the cam handle section. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A clamp for attaching a tonneau cover rail to a sidewall of a truck, the clamp comprising:
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an outer clamp section having a first end configured for engaging an inner clamp section, and a second end configured for engaging a tonneau cover rail; an inner clamp section nestably engaging the outer clamp section, the inner camp section having a first end for engaging the outer clamp section, a second end disposed opposite the first end for engaging a sidewall of a truck and comprising a plurality of slots; a cam handle section for selectively connecting the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section, the cam handle section having a cam moveable between a first, closed position wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are drawn together with sufficient clamping force to hold a tonneau cover rail to a truck sidewall, and a second, open position, wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are not drawn together, and a handle for selectively moving the cam between the first, closed position and the second open position, and wherein the clamp further comprises adjustment means for selectively controlling the distance between the second end of the outer clamp section and the second end of the inner clamp section, said adjustment means comprising a bail-loop extending downwardly from the cam for selectively nesting in the slots of the inner clamp section. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, 41)
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37. A tonneau cover rail clamping system comprising at least one clamp for attaching a tonneau cover rail to a sidewall of a truck, the clamp comprising:
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an outer clamp section having a first end configured for engaging an inner clamp section, and a second end configured for engaging a tonneau cover rail; an inner clamp section nestably engaging the outer clamp section, the inner camp section having a first end for engaging the outer clamp section, a second end disposed opposite the first end for engaging a sidewall of a truck, and a plurality of slots; a cam handle section for selectively connecting the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section, the cam handle section having a cam moveable between a first, closed position wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are drawn together with sufficient clamping force to hold a tonneau cover rail to a truck sidewall, and a second, open position, wherein the outer clamp section and the inner clamp section are not drawn together, and a handle for selectively moving the cam between the first, closed position and the second open position; wherein the clamp further comprises adjustment means for selectively controlling the distances between the second end of the outer clamp section and the second end of the inner clamp section, said adjustment means comprising a bail-loop extending downwardly from the cam for selectively nesting in the slots of the inner clams section; and a tonneau cover rail having at least one first rib disposed thereon, and wherein the second end of the outer clamp section comprises at least one second rib for engaging the at least one first rib of the tonneau cover rail. - View Dependent Claims (38, 42)
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Specification