Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a foldable cover particularly
adapted for the backs of pick-up trucks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pick-up trucks are a popular and relatively inexpensive
means of transportation for passengers and for carrying
small loads. However, the cargo area is an open box and
is therefore subject to adverse weather while providing no
security against theft. In addition, fuel economy is
reduced due to the air drag effects on the open box.
Various attempts have been made to provide suitable covers
for the backs of pick-up trucks. These range from a simple
tarpaulin to more complicated rigid covers including
folding types. Some earlier types of covers do not provide
the degree of protection desired for the cargo or may be
relatively complex or expensive. Likewise, some of the
earlier covers do not provide the degree of access desired
to load the truck or unload it.
The problem of covering open areas in vehicles has been
recognized for some time and attempted solutions include
the flexible cover for vehicles shown in United States
Patent No. 1,950,927 to McMillan. This patent shows a
cover for an automobile including a plurality of slats
connec-ted together by flexible or hinged joints. The sides
of the units are covered by fixed moldings. However, the
cover requires a relatively intricated roller system to
remove the cover. Pick-up trucks do not have a suitable
location for such a roller unit without taking up valuable
cargo area.
United States Patent No. 2,140,960 to Kercher shows a
sliding top for trucks. The unit is rigid and requires
considerable room to open. Furthermore, the cover must be
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relatively heavy in order to provide the degree of
rigidity required to support the top when it opens.
United States Patent No. 2,942,658 to Wilson shows a
foldable wall structure for buildings. The structure
employs high hoods to provide protection at the sides of
the cover while allowing clearance for the folded cover.
This would be unsuitable for pick-up trucks where
extensions to the sides of the bo~ would be necessary,
thus increasing the height for loading as well as
adversely affecting the weight and appearance of the unit.
United States Patent No. 3,570,579 to Matsushima et al
shows a sliding cover consisting of a plurality of cover
pieces linked with hinges. The assembly can be housed in
the cabinet covered by the device.
Other patents of general interest include United States
Patent No. 3,140,563 to Allen; 1,696,208 to Marshall;
2,368~936 to McGehee; and 1,981,241 to McWilliams.
Such prior art does not reveal a cover having all the
desired features for a pick-up truck. The cover should be
capable of being unfolded or retracted without impingîng
upon the cargo area of the truck. Furthermore, it should
offer the required degree of protection without being
subject to lifting or other adverse effects due to wind at
highway speeds. It should be simple so that it is reliable
and can be made and sold as economically as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A foldable cover assembly according to the invention
comprises a plurality of slat members having a
longitudinal slot extending along each end. Each slot
communicates with a more extensive cavity. A plurality of
flexihle hinge means fit between the slat members and
connect together the slat members. Each of the hinge
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means is flexible and resilient and has a centre portion
with relatively thin flange portions extending
longitudinally along each end. There are enlarged,
elongated portions extending along outer ends of the
flange portions. The flange portions and enlarged
portions are shaped so the flange portions can extend
through the slots of the slat members, while the
protrusions are retained in the cavities of the slat
members. A pair of elongated guide means are positioned in
parallel, spaced-apart relationship. The guide means have
inner portions f~r slidably receiving sides of the slat
members and the hinge members thereon. A plurality of
retaining means slidably connect the hinge means to the
guide means. Alternating hinge means have one said
retaining means near each side thereof so said alternating
hinge means are slidably held against the guide means.
Hinge means between said alternating hinge means are free
to fold away from the guide means.
Preferably there is a flap means hingedly connected to
each said guide means for covering sides of the slat
members and hinge means when the cover assembly is
unfolded and for hinging away from the slat memhers and
the hinge means to permit folding of the assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is an upper, rear perspective view of a
combination including a pick-up truck and a
foldable cover assembly according to an
embodiment of the invention, showing the
cover unfolded and covering the box of the
pick-up truck;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the
cover assembly unfolded;
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Figure 3 is a simplified isometric view of the cover
shown in Figures 1 and 2 with one side
thereof broken away;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged isometric view
of one of the guide channels, a flap member
and a portion of one of the slat members of
the assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section
through the slat members and the hinge
members when partially folded and showing
the slidable connection between one of the
alternating hinge members and one of the
guide channels;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective showing the
centre member of the frame of the cover
assembly and its mounts;
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Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective of the front
and of the centre; and
Figure 8 is an end view of one of the hinge members.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring firstly to Figure 1, this shows a Eoldable cover
assembly 10 installed on the box 12 of a pick-up truck
14. The assembly includes a plurality of slat members 16
which are co-planar and ju~taposed to cover the box 12
when the cover assembly is unfolded as shown in Figure 1.
The slat members are shown in better detail in Figure 3
where, for simplicity and clarity, the number of slat
members 16 has been reduced to three. In fact, as may be
observed in Figure 1, there are usually a dozen slat
members or more on an actual assembly. In Figure 3, the
right side of the slat members and associated parts, those
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closest to the observer, have been broken away to show
interior construction. As may be seen, each of -the slat
members is hollow, having a relatively thin top sheet 18
forming top surface 20 of each slat member and a similar
bottom sheet 22 forming bottom surface 24. Since the slat
members 16 are identical, the reference numerals are
dispersed among the various slat members shown for clarity.
Each slat member has a back end 26 and a front end 28.
There is a flange-like end portion 30 extending
perpendicularly from top sheet 18 at end 26 and a
corresponding end portion 32 extending perpendicularly
from bottom sheet 22. The end portions at end 26 extend
towards each other and are separated by a relatively
narrow slot 34, shown bet-ter in Figure 5 which illustrates
the positions of the slat members when the cover assembly
is partially folded. Similarly, the front end 28 of each
of the slat members 16 has end portions 36 and 38 on
opposite sides of slot 40. The end portions extend along
each end of all the slot members.
Again referring to Figure 5, each of the slat members 16
in this embodiment has a plurality of interior ribs 42,
46, 48, 50 and 52 dividing the hollow interior of each
slat member into a plurality of interior cavities 54, 56,
58, 60, 62 and 64. As may be seen, slot 40 communicates
with substantially more extensive cavity 54, while slot 34
similarly communicates with cavity 64. As described thus
far, each panel 16 is, in the preferred embodiment, a
single unitary extrusion. The sides are closed by channel
shaped side members 66 shown best in Figures 3 and 4.
These may be connected using a suitable adhesive.
Assembly 10 also includes a plurality of flexible hinge
means or hinge members arranged in alternating sets of
hinge members 68 and 70. The hinge members do not show in
Figure 1 due to the scale, but, as may be seen in Figures
3 and 5, every second hinge memher is a hinge member 68,
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while the remaining members are members 70. An exception
is the foremost hinge member which is a member 70 as seen
to the right of Figure 3. The differences between the two
members are described below.
Firstly, referring to the member 70 shown in Figure 8,
each hinge member is flat when undeformed. Each has a
centre portion 72 which is flat and rectangular in
section. The centre portion has a flat top 74 and a flat
bottom 76 which is parallel to the top. Substantially
thinner flange portions 78 and 80 extend outwardly from
the centre portion parallel to the top 74 and bottom 76,
when the hinge members are undeformed, and extend
longitudinally along front end 82 and rear end 84 of the
centre portion. Each of the hinge members also has
enlarged portions 86 and 88 seen best in Figure 8. These
enlarged portions extend along outer ends of the flange
portions 78 and 80. They may be seen to be flat in the
dimension perpendicular to the flatness of the flange
portions and the centre portion. It may also be seen in
Figures 3 and 5 that the flange portions and enlarged
portions are shaped so the flange portions extend through
the slots 34 and 40 of the slat members, while the
enlarged portions are retained in interior cavities 54 and
64.
The hinge members thus serve to connect the slat members
16 together. As shown in Figure 8 there are sealing
projections 89, 91, 93 and 95 along the outer corners of
enlarged portions 86 and 88. These serve to weatherproof
the ]oints between the hinge members and slat members by
sealing within cavities 54 and 64. The hinge members are
flexible and resilient as may be observed by comparing
Figure 3, where the hinge members are flat, and Figure 5
where they are curved. The hinge members thus permit
folding of the cover assembly. Figure 5 illustrates a
portion of the cover assembly partly folded, while Fi~ure
2 shows the assembly completely folded.
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The cover assembly has a rectangular frame 90 shown
generally in Figure 2. The frame includes a pair of guide
channel members 92 and 94, a rear member 96, a front
member 98, shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3, and a
longitudinal centre member 100. The front member 98 is an
L~shaped angle section as shown in Figure 3, while rear
member 96 is similar in shape. In the preferred embodiment
the centre member 100 is flat in section. The guide
channel members 92 and 94 are mirror images of each other.
Their structure is best shown in the enlarged fragmentary
view of Figure 4. Each of the guide channel members has an
inner portion 102 for slidably receiving sides of the slat
members 16 and the hinge members thereon. The inner
portion 102 is in the shape of a channel, having a
relatively narrow central slot 104 communicating with a
more extensive interior cavity 106. The inner part has
opposed flanges 108 and 110 on opposite sides of slot 104
which slidably support the slat members and the hinge
member to provide guide means therefor. As seen in Figure
5, which shows a fragment of guide channel 94 with
reference numbers identical to those for guide channel
member 92, hinge members 68 are provided with retaining
means or retainers 112 which slidably connect hinge
members 68 to the guide channel members 92 and 94
respectively. The retainers in the preferred embodiment
are in the shape of rivets having a shank 114 narrow
enough to pass slidably through slot 104 and a head 115 on
top of the hinge member. Each retainer has a head 116 and
a washer 118 within the cavity 106 of one of the guide
channel members 92 or 94. The washer and head 116 are too
large to pass through each slot 104, but are small enough
to slidably pass along the cavity.
Each of the guide channel members 92 and 94 has an outer
portion 120 as shown for member 92 in Figure 4. The outer
portion includes a flange 122 which extends vertically
upwards just beyond the top of slat members 16 when the
cover is unfolded and the slat members are flat on top of
inner portion 102 of each of the guide channel members.
The outer portion also includes a longitudinal socket 123
with a partly cylindrical recess 124 communicating
outwardly through a slot 126. The recess is less than
completely cylindrical because of the slot, but is more
than semi-cylindrical. A drainage channel 127 extends
between inner portion 102 and out~r portion 120.
Cover assembly 10 also includes a pair of flap members 128
13 and 130 shown generally in Figure 1. These are mirror
images and so can be understood by referring only to flap
member 128 shown in better detail in Figure 4. The flap
members are angle-shaped in section, rather in the shape
of an inverted "L". Each has a flat top 132 on a first
flange 133 which is connected perpendicularl~ to a second
flange 134 having a substantially cylindrical end 136
opposite flange 133. The cylindrical end 136 is received
within partly cylindrical recess 124 of one of the guide
channel members, in this case member 92. The slot 126 is
wide enough to permit limited pivoting of the respective
flap member as indicated by arrows 138 in Figure 4. Figure
4 shows the flap member rotated counterclockwise about
partly cylindrical recess 124 so as to clear slat members
16 and permit folding of the cover assembly. In ncrmal
use, the cover assembly unfolded, the flap members 128 and
130 are rotated so their flat tops 132 cover the sides of
slat members 16 and hinge members 68 and 70 as shown in
Figure 1. Thus the flap members improve protection from
the environment along the sides of the cover assembly and,
in addition, prevent lifting of the slat members and hinge
members due to airflow at highway speeds.
Referring to Figure 3, the cover assembly includes a rear
angle member 140 connected to -the rearmost slat member 16
and shaped to overlap rear member 96 of the frame and the
top of the tailgate 142. A weatherstrip retainer 141
connected to the angle member has a slotted cylindrical
recess 143 for retaining weatherstrip 145. Weatherstrip
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145 has a hollow tube 147 received in recess 143 and a
larger hollow tube 149 for pressing against the tailgate
of the truck. A hasp 151 mounted on the angle member fits
over lock 144 shown in Figure 1.
The foremost slat member 16, as shown to the right of
Figure 3, is connected to front member 98 of the frame by
means of a hanging rail 146 which includes a vertical
flange 148 connected to front member 98 by suitable means
such as bolts. The hanging rail also includes a
cylindrical tube 150 with a longitudinal slot 152 facing
foremost slat member 16. This permits the foremost slat
member 16 to be connected to the hanging rail 146 by means
of a hinge member 70 in the same manner as the hinge
members are used to interconnect the slat members.
Although other materials may be employed, the preferred
embodiment is substantially made of extruded polyvinyl
chloride. The frame and slat members 16 are of a
relatively rigid polyvinyl chloride. The hinge members are
of a flexible polyvinyl chloride. Rear angle member 140
and hanging rail 146 are aluminum extrusions in the
preferred embodiment for security and strength.
Hinge members 70 differ from members 68 because they do
not have retainers 112 connected thereto. This permits the
folding of the cover assembly. In use, the box 12 of the
truck 14 shown in Figure 1 is uncovered firstly by
rotating flap members 128 and 130 away from the slat
members, for example counterclockwise from the point of
view of Figure 4 for flap member 128. Lock 144 is then
unlocked if necessary and rear angle member 140 is raised.
The slat members and hinge members are then pushed
forwardly from the rear resulting in the type of folding
shown in Figure 5. Hinge members 68 are held against guide
channel mernbers 92 and 94 because of retainers 112 which
slidably engage the guide channel members. Alternating
hinge members 70 are free to fold away from the guide
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channel members as shown in Figure 5. Thus, as may be
observed by comparing Figures 5 a~ld 2, when folded the
slat members 16 are substantially vertical and the hinge
members 68 and 70 form curved loops connecting adjacent
slat members. The slat members and hinge members therefore
may be stored in a relatively small space at the front of
cover assembly 10 allowing maximum access to the interior
of box 12.
The function of centre member 100 of the frame is to
provide support for the slat members and hinge members
when the cover assembly is unfolded and the box covered.
Preferably the the centre member is movable to permit
maximum access to the interior. This may be easily
accomplished by mounting it slidably on front member 98
and rear member 96 so it can be moved to the side when the
assembly is unfolded. Referring to Figure 6, a guide track
150 is mounted on the inside of front member 98. Hanging
rail 146 would be above in this variation. Member 100 has
a front cut-away portion 152 for overhanging member 98 and
a rear cut-away portion 154 for overhanging rear member
96. Referring to Figure 7, two spool guides 156 and 158
are connected to the front end of member 100 for slidably
engaging guide track 100.
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The guide channel members 92 and 94 and the front member
98 of the frame are preferably connected to the top edge
of the box of the truck by a permanent, pressure sensitive
adhesive. Rear member 96 is preferably made removable by
connecting it with such means as slide bolts to the guids
channel members.
The above description is by way of preferred example
only. The structure may vary without departing from the
scope of the invention which is to be interpreted from the
following claims.
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