Vehicle bed cover, pull-strap/ tie-down

• US 8,142,121 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matthew Mark Griffith
• Original Assignee: Matthew Mark Griffith
• Inventors: Griffith, Matthew Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDON, STEPHEN T
• Application Number:
  US12/798,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20110243681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 410/97, 410/100, 410/118, 410/96, 160/237, 296/100.01, 296/39.2, 296/100.15, 296/100.16, 150/166
• US Class Current: 410/97
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0807 Attachment points
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0876 using restraining net or tarpaulin in contact with the load

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is generally related to automotive accessories. Specifically, it is a device adapted to covering the bed of a pick-up truck, or similar vehicle, including comparable utility trailers. In addition to covering the bed, the device covers the area of an open tailgate and is adapted to cover loads of varying heights by deploying attached side panels. The disclosed device further includes a strap system that connects to the cover and secures the load; in addition it serves as an aid in pulling loads from the bed. Finally the invention describes three systems to anchor the cover to the vehicle, each of which accommodates deployment of the side panels and each of which provides a degree of flexibility to cover loads of varying height.

Claims

1. A vehicle bed cover, pull strap/tie down, and attachment system comprising:

a fabric element comprising a bed cover and a tail gate cover, wherein said bed cover comprises a main panel, a right and a left side panel wherein, said left side panel and said right panel are attached to corresponding edges of said main panel, and further wherein said tailgate cover comprises a rear cover panel and a left rear and a right rear side panel, wherein said rear cover panel is connected to said main panel, and further wherein said left rear and said right rear side panels are connected to corresponding edges of said rear cover panel, and further wherein members of two sets of belt guides are functionally positioned and connected to an inner surface of said main panel;

a load tie-down/pull-strap system comprising a central strap and a first and a second belt, separately attached to said central strap, and further wherein both said first and said second belts comprise a short and a long arm, and further wherein said long arm of each of said first and of said second belts is adapted to engage the members of a set of said belt guides, and further wherein said long arms are adapted to connect to the corresponding short arm; and

,

a main panel attachment system comprising an attachment unit comprising a flexible body with a connector device attached to a first end of said flexible body, and further comprising an attachment point positioned near each of respective corners of said main panel and adapted to secure a second end of said flexible body, and finally comprising a structural means to alter a length of said flexible body.

2. The vehicle bed cover, pull-strap/tie-down, and attachment system of claim 1 wherein each of members of a set of four attachment units comprises a length of elastic cord with a first end a second end wherein a connector device is attached to said first end of said cord a grommet is positioned at each of said attachment points of each of said corners of said main panel and wherein said second end of said elastic cord is passed through said grommet and secured by a knot such that said length of elastic cord is securely attached to said main panel.

3. The vehicle bed cover, pull-strap/tie-down, and attachment system of claim 1 wherein each of members of four attachment units comprises a belt, said belt comprising a first section and a second section, wherein said first section has a proximal end and a distal end, and further wherein said distal end terminates in a male element of a buckle device, and still further wherein said proximal end is securely attached to said main panel at one of connecting points;

and further wherein a female element of a buckle is attached to a distal end of said second section of said belt and a connection device adapted for engaging a tie-down device in a bed of a pick-up truck is secured in a loop formed in a proximal end of said second section of said belt, and wherein said female element of a buckle at the distal end of said second section of said belt engages said male element of a buckle device at the distal end of said first section of said belt, thereby connecting said main panel to said pick-up truck bed, and by adjusting a slack length of said first section of said belt to thereby control a vertical orientation of said main panel.

4. The vehicle bed cover, pull-strap/tie-down, and attachment system of claim 1 wherein said bed cover attachment system comprises an elastic anchor comprising an elastic cord guide (702), an elastic cord terminal guide (703), and a continuous length of elastic cord (704), wherein said elastic cord guide comprises a base strap comprising a guide cord ring attached to a proximal end of said base strap, and a set of three bed attachment rings, wherein, a first member of said set of three bed attachment rings is secured to a distal end of said base strap, a second member and third member of said set of bed attachment rings are attached to the base strap with the third member of said set equally spaced between the first and second members of said set, and the second member of said set spaced a distance from said first member of said set effectively equal to a width said side panels;

an elastic cord guide is secured near each of said corners of said main panel and secured along the edge of an adjacent one of said side panels;

further, wherein said elastic cord terminal guide comprises a solid ring, wherein said solid ring is centered in a center of an upper surface of said main panel and is secured at four equally spaced points, each of said points being 90°

degrees from both of two adjacent ones of said points;

further, whereby each pair of adjacent points forms and limits an elastic cord passage;

said continuous length of elastic cord engages said solid ring at one of said elastic cord passages by looping around a body of said solid ring at said one of said cord passages and next engages the cord guide ring of a corresponding terminal guide, and in sequence engages a next, adjacent elastic cord passage and corresponding terminal guide, finally connecting said solid ring at said elastic cord passages to said main panel by engaging each of said elastic cord guides;

said bed cover and attachment system further comprises a cord stay wherein a distal end and a proximal end of said continuous length of elastic cord traverse said cord stay and contact an upper surface of a cord stay plate;

the distal and proximal ends of said continuous length of elastic cord pass through lockable openings in a lock device that prevents said distal and proximal ends of said continuous length of elastic cord from retracting into a lumen of said cord stay plate.