Tonneau cover system

• US 7,347,482 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Specialty Vehicle Acquisition Corp. (Specialty Vehicle Holding Corp.)
• Inventors: Powell, James C
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDON, STEPHEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/931,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 296/107.08, 296/116, 296/117, 296/107.01, 296/107.09, 296/136.05, 296/136.06, 296/136.03
• US Class Current: 296/107.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/203 the cover part comprising cover side flaps

Abstract

A tonneau cover system uses a unique and novel way to control the movement of a side cover. The system utilizes a drum that is coupled to the side cover and a cable which is coupled to the drum. Movement of the cable causes the side cover to move between open and closed positions. The cable can be coupled to a retractable roof. Movement of the retractable roof between raised and stowed positions causes the side cover of the tonneau cover system to move between its open and closed positions.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle system comprising:

a retractable roof system including a retractable roof moveable between a raised position and stowed position; and

a tonneau cover system having a cover operable between open and closed positions to respectively allow access to and cover a portion of a compartment,

wherein partial movement of said retractable roof between said raised and stowed positions causes said cover to move completely between its open and closed positions.

2. The automotive vehicle system of claim 1, wherein said retractable roof system includes a roof cover and a top stack mechanism operable to move said retractable roof between said raised and stowed positions, and movement of said top stack mechanism causing said cover to move between its open and closed positions.

3. The automotive vehicle system of claim 2, wherein said top stack mechanism includes a plurality of roof rails and movement of one of said roof rails causing said cover to move between its open and closed positions.

4. The automotive vehicle system of claim 3, wherein movement of a rearmost one of said roof rails of said top stack mechanism causes said cover to move between its open and closed positions.

5. The automotive vehicle system of claim 2, wherein a cable interconnects said top stack mechanism to said cover of said tonneau cover system.

6. The automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said cover is mechanically linked to said retractable roof.

7. The automotive vehicle of claim 6, wherein said cover is mechanically linked to said retractable roof with a cable.

8. The automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said cover pivots between its open and closed positions.

9. The automotive vehicle of claim 8, wherein said cover is a first cover, said tonneau cover system includes a second cover operable between open and closed positions to cover a portion of a compartment, and said first cover is pivotally coupled to said second cover.

10. The automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said cover is in its open position when said retractable roof is in said raised position and said cover is in its closed position when said retractable roof is in said stowed position.

11. The automotive vehicle system of claim 1, wherein said cover begins to move between said open and closed positions immediately upon movement of said retractable roof from a fully raised position toward said stowed position.

12. An automotive vehicle system comprising:

a retractable roof system including a retractable roof moveable between a raised position and stowed position; and

a tonneau cover system having a cover operable between open and closed positions to respectively allow access to and cover a portion of a compartment,

wherein said cover begins to move from said open position toward said closed position immediately upon initiation of movement of said retractable roof from a fully raised position toward said stowed position and wherein said cover is a first cover, said tonneau cover system includes a second cover operable between open and closed positions to cover a portion of a compartment, and said first cover is pivotally coupled to said second cover.

13. An automotive vehicle system comprising:

a retractable roof system including a retractable roof moveable between a raised position and stowed position; and

a tonneau cover system having a cover operable between open and closed positions to respectively allow access to and cover a portion of a compartment,

wherein said cover remains in said closed position during initial movement of said retractable roof from said stowed position toward said raised position and moves from said closed position to said open position as a result of continued motion of said retractable roof toward said raised position.

14. The automotive vehicle system of claim 13, wherein said cover is a first cover, said tonneau cover system includes a second cover operable between open and closed positions to cover a portion of a compartment, and said first cover is pivotally coupled to said second cover.

15. The automotive vehicle system of claim 13, wherein said cover is mechanically coupled to said retractable roof and said mechanical coupling drives movement of said cover between said open and closed positions with movement of said retractable roof.