Tonneau cover apparatus having rear bar lock

• US 6,851,738 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agri-Cover Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Agri-Cover Incorporated
• Inventors: Schmeichel, Steven C., Schmeichel, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENEVERT, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US10/668,771
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 296/100.01, 296/100.11, 296/100.14, 296/100.15, 296/100.16, 296/100.17, 296/100.18, 135/907, 160/368.1
• US Class Current: 296/100.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/102 Readily detachable tarpaulins, e.g. for utility vehicles; Frames therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/104 Fastening means for tarpaulins
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/02 Covering of load
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/04 by tarpaulins or like flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/907 Cover stretcher

Abstract

A tonneau cover apparatus for attaching a flexible cover about a cargo box of a vehicle, preferably a pickup truck. The apparatus preferably includes, a support frame removably attached about the perimeter of a cargo box of the vehicle, an elongated end plate attached to an end of the flexible cover, an end plate engagement member attached to the support frame, preferably one on each side of the support frame, and a locking member movably attached to the end plate. The end plate is preferably attached to an end of the flexible cover and is configured to cooperatively engage and pivot with respect to the end plate engagement member or members into and out of a fixed stretching position wherein the flexible cover can be correspondingly be tensed and relaxed. The end plate may be retained in the fixed stretching position by the locking member, in alternate embodiments, a plurality of locking members are provided, preferably locking members that slide within a channel in the end plate. In preferred embodiments the locking member or members are spring biased toward a locking position where the locking member engages a flange of the support frame to prevent the end plate from moving out of the fixed stretching position.

Claims

1. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising:

a flexible cover, the flexible cover having first and second ends;

a support frame for attachment to the cargo box;

the support frame having two opposing side rails and a pair of end plate engagement members, each of which is secured to one of the respective opposing side rails in a position rearward of the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box;

an end plate attached to the second end of the flexible cover, the end plate configured to cooperatively engage the respective end plate engagement members when the flexible cover is drawn over the top of the perimeter of the cargo box;

wherein the end plate engagement members cooperate to engage the end plate in a full engagement position when the first end of the flexible cover is operatively connected to the support frame forward of the respective end plate engagement members, such that the end plate is in a closed position when the end plate is in the full engagement position, wherein the flexible cover is stretched so as to place a tension on the flexible cover; and

a locking member, the locking member being secured to the end plate and movable between a first position and a second position when the and plate is in the closed position;

wherein the locking member prevents the end plate from being disengaged from the closed position when the locking member is in the first position in which an extension of the locking member engages the side rail adjacent to the end plate to prevent such movement, and wherein the end plate can be disengaged from the closed position when the locking member is in the second position.

2. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end plate has an underside and the locking member is operatively connected to the underside of the end plate.

3. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is spring biased toward the fist position.

4. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tonneau cover apparatus includes an elongated member attached to the locking member such that force can be placed upon the locking member by pulling the elongated member in opposition to a spring biasing force biasing the locking member toward the first position by drawing the locking member away from the first position toward the second position.

5. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is spring biased toward the first position and the locking member is operatively connected to an underside of the end plate and positioned in such a manner that the support frame displaces the locking member from the first position to the second position for a brief period of time when the end plate pivots with respect to the support frame into the fixed stretching position.

6. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 1, the locking member being a first locking member and the tonneau cover apparatus further includes a second locking member, each of the respective first and second locking members being secured to the end plate proximate respective opposite ends of the end plate;

wherein each of the opposing side rails include an inwardly extending flange portion and each locking member includes a finger portion, the finger portion of each locking member being engaged with the inwardly extending flange portion of the respective opposing side rail when the respective locking member is in a first position, the finger portion of each of the respect locking members disengaging from the inwardly extending flange portion of the respective side rail when the respective locking member is moved from the first position to a second position.

7. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the respective first and second locking members is biased toward the first position and force is required to displace the respective first and second locking members from the first position.

8. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the end plate includes a pair of springs, each spring interconnected between the end plate and one of the locking members so as to provide a biasing force between the end plate and the respective locking member such that each of the respective locking members are biased toward the first position.

9. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tonneau cover apparatus includes first and second elongated members attached to each of the respective locking members such that force can be placed upon each respective locking member by pulling each of the respective elongated members in opposition to a respective spring biasing force biasing each of the respective locking members toward the respective first positions by drawing each of the respective locking members away farm the respective fist position toward the respective second position.

10. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the respective springs are selected from the group consisting of compression springs and tension springs.

11. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spring is a tension spring.

12. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the spring is a compression spring.

13. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side rail includes an inwardly extending flange portion and the locking member includes an outwardly extended finger portion, the finger portion of the locking member being engaged with the inwardly extending flange portion adjacent to the end plate and rearward of the respective first and second engagement positions with respect to the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box and the locking member is in the first position, the finger portion of the locking member disengaging from the inwardly extending flange portion when the locking member is moved from the first position to the second position.

14. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 13, the locking member being a first locking member and the tonneau cover apparatus further including a second locking member that is a functional and structural mirror image of the first locking member when operatively connected to the end plate, the second locking member being secured to on end of the end plate and the first locking member being secured to the opposite end of the end plate.

15. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the end plate includes a spring, the spring being interconnected between the end plate and the locking member so as to provide a biasing tension between the end plate and the spring such that the locking member is biased toward the first position.

16. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the locking member has an upper portion having a main body which is slidably retained by the end plate, the finger portion is spaced apart from the upper portion and extends outwardly beyond the main body of the upper portion, and the locking member is biased toward the first position and force is required to displace the locking members from the first position.

17. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the end plate includes a spring, the spring being interconnected between the end plate and the locking member so as to provide a biasing tension between the end plate and the spring such that the locking member is biased toward the first position.

18. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the spring is selected from the group consisting of compression springs and tension springs.

19. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the spring is a tension spring.

20. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the spring is a compression spring.

21. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the locking member includes an upper portion having a main body which is slidably retained by the end plate, and the finger portion is spaced apart from the upper portion and extends outwardly beyond the main body of the upper portion.

22. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the end plate includes a generally “

T”

shaped channel and a cross-section of the upper portion of the locking member is generally “

T”

shaped, the generally “

T”

shaped channel of the end plate configured to slidingly receive and retain the generally “

T”

shaped cross-section of the upper portion.

23. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 22, further including oppositely disposed guide strips positioned between interior surfaces of the generally T”

shaped channel and an exterior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member, the respective guide strips each imparting a frictional force which resists motion between the generally “

T”

shaped upper position of the locking member as it moves within the generally “

T”

shaped channel of the end plate.

24. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member includes a friction imparting element and two oppositely opposed guide strips, the friction imparting element extending beyond the main body of the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member to slidingly engage an interior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped channel, the friction imparting element and the respective guide strips creating frictional forces which resist motion by the locking member as the locking member moves relative to the end plate.

25. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 22, further including a friction imparting element positioned between an interior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped channel and an exterior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member to which the friction imparting element is attached, the friction imparting element imparting a frictional force which resists motion by the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member as it moves within the generally “

T”

shaped channel of the end pate.

26. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the friction imparting element is attached to an exterior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member and the exterior surface of the upper element onto which the friction imparting element is attached is a top surface.

27. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the friction imparting element comprises a strip of a loop portion of a hook and loop type strip fastener, the strip extending along the longitudinal extent of the upper member.

28. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising:

a flexible cover, the flexible cover having first and second ends;

a support frame for attachment to the cargo box;

the support frame having two opposing side rails and a pair of end plate engagement members, each of which is secured to one of the respective opposing side rails in a position rearward of the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box;

an end plate attached to the second end of the flexible cover, the end plate configured to cooperatively engage the respective end plate engagement members when the flexible cover is drawn over the top of the perimeter of the cargo box;

wherein the end plate engagement members cooperate to engage the end plate in a full engagement position when the first end of the flexible cover is operatively connected to the support frame forward of the respective end plate engagement members, such that the end plate is in a dosed position when the end plate is in the full engagement position, wherein the flexible cover is stretched so as to place a tension on the flexible cover; and

a locking member, the locking member being slidably secured within a channel within the end plate and movable between a first position and a second position when the end plate is in the dosed position;

wherein the locking member prevents the end plate from being disengaged from the dosed position when the locking member is in the first position in which an extension of the locking member engages the side rail adjacent to the end plate to prevent such movement, and wherein the end plate can be disengaged from the closed position when the locking member is in the second position.

29. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the end plate has an underside and the locking member is operatively connected to the underside of the end plate.

30. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the locking member is spring biased toward the first position.

31. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the tonneau cover apparatus includes an elongated member attached to the locking member such that force can be placed upon the locking member by pulling the elongated member in opposition to a spring biasing force biasing the locking member toward the first position by drawing the locking member away from the first position toward the second position.

32. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the locking member is spring biased toward the first position and the locking member is operatively connected to en underside of the end plate and positioned in such a manner that the support frame displaces the locking member from the first position to the second position for a brief period of time when the end plate pivots with respect to the support frame into the fixed stretching position.

33. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 28, the locking member being a first locking member and the tonneau cover apparatus further includes a second locking member, each of the respective first and second locking members being secured to the end plate proximate respective opposite ends of the end plate;

wherein each of the opposing side rails include an inwardly extending flange portion and each locking member includes a finger portion, the finger portion of each locking member being engaged with the inwardly extending flange portion of the respective opposing side rail when the respective locking member is in a first position, the finger portion of each of the respective locking members disengaging from the inwardly extending flange portion of the respective side rail when the respective locking member is moved from the first position to a second position.

34. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of the respective first and second locking members is biased toward the first position and force is required to displace the respective first and second locking members from the first position.

35. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the end plate includes a pair of springs, each spring interconnected between the end plate and one of the locking members so as to provide a biasing force between the end plate and the respective locking member such that each of the respective locking members are biased toward the first position.

36. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the tonneau cover apparatus includes first and second elongated members attached to each of the respective locking members such that force can be placed upon each respective locking member by pulling each of the respective elongated members in opposition to a respective spring biasing force biasing each of the respective locking members toward the respective first positions by drawing each of the respective locking members away from the respective first position toward the respective second position.

37. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the respective springs are selected from the group consisting of compression springs and tension springs.

38. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the spring is a tension spring.

39. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the spring is a compression spring.

40. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the side rail includes an inwardly extending flange portion and the locking member includes an outwardly extended finger portion, the finger portion of the locking member being engaged with the inwardly extending flange portion adjacent to the end plate and rearward of the respective first and second engagement positions with respect to the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box and the locking member is in the first position, the finger portion of the locking member disengaging from the inwardly extending flange portion when the locking member is moved from the first position to the second position.

41. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 40, the locking member being a first locking member and the tonneau cover apparatus further including a second locking member that is a functional and structural minor image of the first locking member when operatively connected to the end plate, the second locking member being secured to one end of the end plate and the first locking member being secured to the opposite end of the end plate.

42. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the end plate includes a spring, the spring being interconnected between the end plate and the locking member so as to provide a biasing tension between the end plate and the spring such that the locking member is biased toward the first position.

43. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the locking member has an upper portion having a main body which is slidably retained by the end plate, the finger portion is spaced apart from the upper portion and extends outwardly beyond the main body of the upper portion, and the locking member is biased toward the first position and force is required to displace the locking members from the first position.

44. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the end plate includes a spring, the spring being interconnected between the end plate and the locking member so as to provide a biasing tension between the end plate and the spring such that the locking member is biased toward the first position.

45. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the spring is selected from the group consisting of compression springs and tension springs.

46. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the spring is a tension spring.

47. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the spring is a compression spring.

48. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the locking member includes an upper portion having a main body which is slidably retained by the end plate, and the finger portion is spaced apart from the upper portion and extends outwardly beyond the main body of the upper portion.

49. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the end plate includes a generally “

T”

shaped channel and a cross-section of the upper portion of the locking member is generally “

T”

shaped, the generally “

T”

shaped channel of the end plate configured to slidingly receive and retain the generally “

T”

shaped cross-section of the upper portion.

50. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 49, further including oppositely disposed guide strips positioned between interior surfaces of the generally “

T”

shaped channel and an exterior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member, the respective guide strips each imparting a frictional force which resists motion between the generally “

T”

shaped upper position of the baking member as it moves within the generally “

T”

shaped channel of the end plate.

51. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member includes a friction imparting element and two oppositely opposed guide strips, the friction imparting element extending beyond the main body of the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member to slidingly engage an interior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped channel, the friction imparting element and the respective guide strips creating frictional forces which resist motion by the locking member as the locking member moves relative to the end plate.

52. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 49, further including a friction imparting element positioned between an interior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped channel and an exterior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member to which the friction imparting element is attached, the friction imparting lament imparting a frictional force which resists motion by the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member as it moves within the generally “

T”

shaped channel of the end plate.

53. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the friction imparting element is attached to an exterior surface of the generally “

T”

shaped upper portion of the locking member and the exterior surface of the upper element onto which the friction imparting element is attached is a top surface.

54. The tonneau cover apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the friction imparting element comprises a strip of a loop portion of a hook and loop type strip fastener, the strip extending along the longitudinal extent of the upper member.