Attachment system for truck beds

• US 6,309,006 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bestop Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Saddleman Incorporated
• Inventors: Rippberger, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US09/691,465
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 296/100.16, 296/100.17, 296/100.18
• US Class Current: 296/100.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/104 Fastening means for tarpaulins
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0807 Attachment points
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0815 Attachment rails or trellis

Abstract

An attachment system attaches a structure or tonneau cover to a truck bed with side walls having stake pockets. Fastening plates are pivotally coupled to the structure or the belt rails of the tonneau cover. The plates pivotal between a first orientation in which the plates align with the stake pockets to pass therethrough, and a second orientation in which the plates rotate with respect to the first orientation to abut the stake pockets and secure the structure to the side walls of the truck bed. Tensioners can be coupled to the structure, and engage the fastening plates, to draw the fastening plates towards the structure. A cover can be removably attached to the belt rails to cover the truck bed.

Claims

1. An attachment system to attach a structure to a truck bed with side walls having stake pockets, the attachment system comprising:

fastening plates, pivotally coupled to the structure and receivable in the stake pockets, and pivotal between

     1) a first orientation in which the plate is oriented perpendicular to an axis of the stake pocket and to align with the stake pocket to pass therethrough, and

     2) a second orientation in which the plate is rotated with respect to the first orientation to abut the stake pocket to secure the structure to the side walls of the truck bed; and

the fastening plates having a length smaller than a length of the stake pockets, but larger than a width of the stake pockets; and

tensioners, coupled to the structure and engaging the fastening plates, to draw the fastening plates towards the structure.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the plates includes a threaded bore;

and wherein the tensioners included threaded fasteners, rotatably coupled to the structure to rotatably engage the threaded bores of the plates, the threaded fasteners being rotatable to pivot the plates with respect to the structure and the stake pockets, and to displace the plates towards the structure and the stake pockets.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fastening plates have intermediate portions to extend between the side walls proximal the stake pockets, the intermediate portions having opposite vertical abutment walls to oppose the side walls proximal the stake pockets to resist lateral movement between the fastening plates and the stake pockets, and thus between the structure and the side walls of the truck bed.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the fastening plates include at least one flange extending therefrom to engage the side walls proximal the stake pockets;

and wherein the flange is inclined to force the flange against the side wall as the fastening plate pivots.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the fastening plates have an upper surface, and wherein a portion of the upper surface is an angled portion to force a portion of the upper surface into abutment with the side wall proximal the stake pockets.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the angled portion is arcuate and forms a quarter arc, and wherein the fastening plates are rotatable a quarter turn.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the fastening plates have at least one horizontal flange with varying thickness.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the structure further includes left and right belt rails to be disposed on left and right side walls of the truck bed;

and further comprising;

a flexible cover, removably attached to the left and right belt rails.

9. A tonneau system for a truck bed having left and right side walls with stake pockets, the tonneau system comprising:

left and right side belt rails, to be attached to the respective left and right side walls of the truck bed;

fastening plates, pivotally coupled to each of the left and right side belt rails, to be received by the stake pockets,

the fastening plates have a length smaller than a length of the stake pockets, but larger than a width of the stake pockets,

the fastening plates being pivotal between

     1) a first orientation in which the plates are oriented perpendicular to axes of the stake pockets and to align with the stake pockets to pass therethrough, and

     2) a second orientation in which the plates are to transverse the stake pockets to abut the side walls proximal the stake pockets to secure the left and right belt rails to the respective left and right side walls of the truck bed; and

a cover, coupled to the belt rails.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the cover is formed of a flexible material, and is releasably attached to the belt rails.

11. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of the plates includes a threaded bore formed therein perpendicular to the plate;

and further comprising;

threaded fasteners, rotatably coupled to the structure and rotatably engaging the threaded bores of the plates, the threaded fasteners being rotatable to pivot the plates with respect to the structure and the stake pockets, and to displace the plates towards the structure and the stake pockets.

12. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the fastening plates have intermediate portions to extend between the side walls proximal the stake pockets, the intermediate portions having opposite vertical abutment walls to oppose the side walls proximal the stake pockets to resist lateral movement between the fastening plates and the stake pockets, and thus between the structure and the side walls of the truck bed.

13. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of the fastening plates have an upper surface, and wherein a portion of the upper surface is an angled portion to force a portion of the upper surface into abutment with the side wall proximal the stake pockets.

14. A tonneau system a truck bed having left and right side walls with stake pockets, the tonneau system comprising:

a) left and right side belt rails, to be attached to the respective left and right side walls of the truck bed, having outer channels with an outwardly facing and a downwardly angled orientation;

b) fastening plates, pivotally coupled to each of the left and right side belt rails, to be received by the stake pockets,

c) the fastening plates have a length smaller than a length of the stake pockets, but larger than a width of the stake pockets,

d) the fastening plates being pivotal between

     1) a first orientation in which the plates are oriented perpendicular to axes of the stake pockets and to align with the stake pockets to pass therethrough, and

     2) a second orientation in which the plates are to transverse the stake pockets to abut the side walls proximal the stake pockets to secure the left and right belt rails to the respective left and right side walls of the truck bed; and

e) a flexible cover, removably attached to the left and right belt rails, having a perimeter flange removably received within the outer channels of the left and right belt rails.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14, further comprising:

a) a front belt rail, to be disposed at a front side wall of the truck bed, and coupled to and between the left and right belt rails, and having an outer channel with an outwardly facing orientation and an enlarged interior; and

b) a rear belt rail, to be disposed at a rear wall/tailgate of the truck bed, and coupled to and between the left and right belt rails, and having an outer channel with an outwardly facing and a downwardly angled orientation; and

wherein the cover further includes;

a) a front perimeter flange, disposed in the outer channel of the front belt rail, having an enlarged tip disposed in the enlarged interior; and

b) a rear perimeter flange, removably disposed in the outer channel of the rear wall/tailgate.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein each of the belt rails further include a hollow;

and further comprising;

a plurality of corners, coupled to ends of the belt rails, to coupling adjacent ends of the belt rails, each corner having protrusions inserted into the hollows of the belt rails.

17. A system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the left and right belt rails further include interior channels;

and further comprising;

at least one support bow, coupled to and between the left and right belt rails at an intermediate location, having flanges received within the inner channels of the left and right belt rails.

18. A system in accordance with claim 14, wherein each of the plates includes a threaded bore formed therein perpendicular to the plate;

and further comprising;

threaded fasteners, rotatably coupled to the structure and rotatably engaging the threaded bores of the plates, the threaded fasteners being rotatable to pivot the plates with respect to the structure and the stake pockets, and to displace the plates towards the structure and the stake pockets.

19. A system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the fastening plates have intermediate portions to extend between the side walls proximal the stake pockets, the intermediate portions having opposite vertical abutment walls to oppose the side walls proximal the stake pockets to resist lateral movement between the fastening plates and the stake pockets, and thus between the structure and the side walls of the truck bed.

20. A system in accordance with claim 14, wherein each of the fastening plates have an upper surface, and wherein a portion of the upper surface is an angled portion to force a portion of the upper surface into abutment with the side wall proximal the stake pockets.