Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 CAP FOR PICKUP TRUCK BED
2
3 CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
4 This application claims the benefit of provisional application no.
61/151,930 filed on
February 12, 2009.
6 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
7 This invention concerns caps for pickup truck cargo beds which are used to
enclose the
8 normally open cargo bed for various well known purposes.
9 Such caps have typically been sold and installed as unitary structures which
are bulky to
ship, install and to store when removed from the truck. A further disadvantage
is each cap must
11 be built to match the dimensions of each truck cargo bed.
12 The typical cap also precludes the presence of truck bed racks which are
used to carry
13 long cargo items such as ladders, lumber, pipes, etc.
14 Collapsible caps have been proposed such as shown in U.S. patent no.
7,243,965 which
allows conversions to a tonneau cover, but these involve complex arrangements
and also suffer
16 from many of the drawbacks of unitary construction described above.
17 It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple cap for a
pickup truck cargo
18 bed which need not be shipped, installed or stored as a unitary structure,
and which can be
19 adapted to varying size cargo beds and be easily and simply converted to a
tonneau cover, and
also can allow the presence of cargo racks attached to the cargo bed.
21 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
22 The above recited object and other objects which will be understood upon a
reading of
23 the following specification and claims are achieved by a cap which is
assembled on the cargo
24 bed from a kit having only a few simple components, comprised of a base
support frame
1
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 assembly formed by a pair of side guide rails pivotally connected at either
end by a hoop support
2 frame which can be swung up from a position lying flat on the side guide
rails to an upright erect
3 position.
4 A top support guide rail extends between the two upright hoop support frames
securing
them in the erected position. A pair of flexible side panels of plastic or
metal, which may be
6 included in the kit or obtained locally, are installed extending between a
respective side of the
7 top support guide and a respective side guide rail so as to be flexed into a
curved convex shape
8 with side edges received into lengthwise slots defined along each of the
side rail guides and each
9 side of the top guide rail to capture the longitudinal edges of the hinged
rear panels. End panels
including a rear window panel matching the hoop support frame shape are
mounted to each hoop
11 support frame. The side panel ends are secured in the hoop support frames
to capture the side
12 panels, with a fixed front panel secured to the front hoop support frame,
and the window panel
13 hinged to the rear hoop support frame, to completely enclose the space over
the cargo bed.
14 The hoop support frames may be adjustable in width as well as the end
panels by a
multisection to make up construction of the frames and end panels.
16 The cap can easily be collapsed to form a rigid tonneau cover by lowering
the hoop
17 support frames and installing the side panels overlapping each other
extending over the lowered
18 hoop support frames, held in a convex shape by the ends being received in
upwardly projecting
19 lips on each of the lowered hoop support frames.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
21 Figure 1 is a simplified pictorial view of a cap according to the present
invention installed
22 on a cargo bed of a pickup truck also having a cargo rack extends over the
cap.
23 Figure IA is a simplified pictorial view of the cap shown in Figure 1.
2
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 Figure 1 B is a fragmentary side view of the cap showing a sealing gasket
between the
2 forward ends of the cap and the back of the truck cabin.
3 Figure 1 C is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the front and
rear hoop
4 support frames showing the side panel ends secured thereto.
Figure 1 D is a sectional view through the front hoop support frame sharing an
alternate
6 construction thereof.
7 Figure 2 is a pictorial view of the major components of a kit from which the
cap shown in
8 Figure 1 can be assembled.
9 Figure 3 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a base support frame assembly
installed on a
cargo bed with the hoop support frames partially erected.
11 Figure 4 is a fragmentary pictorial view as in Figure 3 with a top guide
rail installed on
12 the erected hoop support frames.
13 Figure 5 is a pictorial view of a truck having the side panels being
installed in the base
14 support frame assembly.
Figure 6 is a rear end view of a cap according to the invention having an
adjustable width
16 hoop support frame.
17 Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a lengthwise section through the cap
shown in Figure 6.
18 Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view through a top guide rail with
fragmentary
19 portions of side panels inserted therein.
Figure 9 is a bottom view of a top guide rail configured to be hinged to the
top of the
21 hoop support frame with slots for accommodating travel of pins hinged to
the hoop support
22 frame.
3
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 Figure 10 is an enlarged end view of a side guide rail showing a fragmentary
end of a
2 side panel inserted therein and a portion of a pivotally connected hoop
support frame.
3 Figure 11 is a diagrammatic top view of a base support frame assembly in
which the top
4 guide rail is hinged to the hoop support frame which are folded down.
Figure 12 is a top view of the base support frame assembly with the hoop
support frames
6 in the erected position.
7 Figure 13 is a fragmentary pictorial view of an alternate view of an
adjustable width rear
8 hoop support frame with an adjustable width window assembly.
9 Figure 14 is a rear view of the rear hoop support frame and window assembly
shown in
Figure 13 in the widest adjustment position.
11 Figure 15 is a rear view of the rear hoop support frame and window assembly
shown in
12 Figure 13 in the narrowest adjusted position.
13 Figure 16 is a pictorial view of a pickup truck with a cap according to the
invention
14 shown converted to a tonneau cover.
Figure 17 is an end view of the cap converted to a hard tonneau cover using a
special
16 form of the top guide rail.
17 Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of the end of one of the
overlapped side panels
18 shown in Figure 17 received in a guide channel on a hoop support frame.
19 Figure 19 is a pictorial view of one of the hoop support frames folded down
with an
upward projecting lip edge.
21 Figure 20 is an end view of a tonneau cover adapter mated with a side rail
guide, with a
22 fragmentary view of an edge of a side panel received therein.
23
4
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
2 In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be
employed for
3 the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with
the requirements of
4 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be
limiting and should not
be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and
variations within
6 the scope of the appended claims.
7 Referring to the drawings and in particular, 1 A and I B, a conventional
pickup truck 10 is
8 shown having a cargo bed 12 located to the rear of the passenger cab 14. A
cargo rack 16 can be
9 installed on the cargo bed 14 at the same time due to the compactness of the
cap 18 according to
the present invention. Such a cargo bed mounted rack is shown in published
application U.S.
11 2006/0163300 and Patent No. D529,858 to the present inventor.
12 The cap 18 is comprised of a base support frame assembly 20 comprised of a
pair of
13 parallel side guide rails 22 each installed atop a respective sidewall of
the cargo bed 12 as with
14 suitable fasteners and a pair of hoop support frames 24A,24B each mounted
to opposite ends of
the side guide rails 22. The hoop support frames 24A,24B can be constructed
from members of
16 various configurations, including extruded square tubes, solid members,
angles, channels, etc.
17 A top guide rail 26 extends between the tops of erected the hoop support
frames 24A,24B
18 and is secured thereto by simply being assembled thereto after raising of
the support frames 24A,
19 24B attached with fasteners or can be mounted to remain attached when the
hoop support frames
are raised and lowered as described below.
21 A hinged window panel 28 is mounted within the rear hoop support frame 24A
and is
22 hinged thereto to allow opening of the window 28. A fixed plastic panel 30
is mounted fixed to
23 the front hoop support frame 24B.
5
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 A pair of flexible side panels 32 are installed extending between the top
support guide 26
2 and each of the side guide rails 22 and held so as to be bowed out to assume
a convex curved
3 shape as shown.
4 Each of the long side edges of the side panels 32 are received in slots
defined in the side
guide rails 22 and in the top guide rails 26 to be captured to cause them to
assume the convex
6 curved shape which is further secured by the ends being conformed to the
shape of the hoop
7 support frames 24A, 24B.
8 Front and rear end panels 28B, 28A can be installed in each hoop support
frame 24A,
9 24B to completely enclose the cargo space.
The end edges of the side panels 32 can be received in slots 25A,25B defined
about the
11 perimeter of each hoop support frame 24A,24B. In Figure 1 C, the front hoop
support frame 24B
12 comprised of formed square tubing pieces, has an angle 23B installed
thereon sandwiching a seal
13 27B and the panel 28B against the hoop support frame 24B as with screws or
rivets (not shown).
14 The angle 23B is shaped to match the hoop support frame 24B and may be
curved in section to
provide more pleasing appearance.
16 The top leg of angle 23B is spaced above the top of the hoop support frame
24B to
17 define the slot 25B into which the end edge of the panel 32 is inserted.
18 The rear hoop support frame 24A has angle 23A assembled thereover after the
side panel
19 32 has been installed with three edges secured in the slots of the side
guide rails 22 and top guide
rail 26 to capture the end edge of the side panels 32. The rear window 30 is
recessed within the
21 lower leg of the angle 23A and hinged thereto at 36. A weather strip 62 can
be provided.
6
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
I Figure 1D shows that the angle 23B can be replaced with web 23B-1 integrally
framed
2 with the hoop support frame 24B-1. The front end panel 28B can be secured
with an adhesive
3 seal or fasteners (not shown).
4 The cap 18 may be assembled by one person in place onto the truck cargo bed
12, with
the components able to be shipped or stored flat as seen in Figure 2. The side
panels 32 can also
6 be obtained locally, and are comprised of sheets of bendable plastic or
metal cut to size, and may
7 optionally be printed with any desired graphics.
8 The hoop support frames 24A, 24B have leg portions which are pivotally
mounted to the
9 ends of the side guide rails 22 to be able to be swung down and lie parallel
to the plane defined
by the side rails 22 as seen in Figure 2.
11 To assemble, the base support frame assembly 20 is slid into the cargo bed
12 as seen in
12 Figure 3 and thereafter side guide rails 22 located atop the cargo bed side
walls and secured
13 thereto with suitable fasteners. The hoop support frames 24A, 24B are then
pivoted to an upright
14 position as seen in Figures 3 and 4, and the center guide support 26
installed affixed at either end
to the top of each hoop support frame 24A, 24B (Figure 4). The center guide
support 26 may
16 also be made a part of the base support frame assembly 20 as described
below.
17 Next, the side panels 32 are each slid endwise into the slots in the
respective side guide
18 rail 22 and center guide as shown in Figure 5. The end edges may be
captured by the front hoop
19 support frame 24B by a metal closure 25A.
As seen in Figure 1 B, a wedge shape sealing piece 34 may be is provided
installed
21 between the rear of the passenger cabin 14 and the cap 18.
22 Figures 6-10 show various further details which may be incorporated in a
cap 18
23 according to the invention.
7
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 The rear end panel preferably is comprised of a window 30 which may be
mounted by a
2 piano hinge 36 supported by the top of the rear hoop support frame 24A as
described above.
3 The side panels 32 shaped into conformity to the outer perimeter of the hoop
support
4 frames 24A, 24B as described above and indicated in Figure 6. A seal 40 can
be provided
therebetween.
6 A sealing strip 42 (Figure 6) can also be provided about the perimeter of
the window 30.
7 As seen in Figure 8, the top guide rail 26 can be constructed of a pair of
thin aluminum
8 sheets 44 attached or welded to a spacer channel 46 to create opposite
spaces receiving the upper
9 side edge of each side panel 32 (Figure 8) or may be formed as an extrusion.
The side guide rails 22 can be constructed of a pair of aluminum angles 48
held apart but
11 fixed together with spacers 50 to create a vertical space forming slots
into which the bottom side
12 edges of the side panels 32 are received (Figure 10). This also allows
drainage of water entering
13 the slots. The side guide rails 22 can also be made as an extrusion 58.
14 The bottom ends of the legs of the hoop support frames 24A, 24B (which are
here
configured as formed angles) are pivotally attached to the side guide rails 22
as shown in Figure
16 7 to allow the raising and lowering necessary to install or collapse the
cap 18.
17 The bottom ends of the legs of the hoop support frames 24A, 24B are rounded
as seen in
18 Figure 7 to accommodate the downward pivoting.
19 The top guide rail 26 can be permanently secured to the hoop support frames
24A, 24B at
either end while still allowing the pivoting up and down of the hoops support
frames 24A, 24B
21 by means of a pin and slot connection including lengthwise slots 52 at
either end (Figure 9).
8
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 Further details of a cap 18 according to the invention having such a top
guide 26 support
2 are shown in Figure 7, which shows a hinge 54 at each end connected to the
bottom of the
3 channel 46 by a sliding rivet pin 56.
4 One strap of the hinge 54 is attached to the top of a respective hoop
support frame 24A,
24B.
6 End pieces 29 are secured to either end of the top guide rail 26.
7 As the hoop support frames 24A, 24B are swung down about pivots 58, the
hinges 54
8 open up and the pins 56 slide down slots 52 as seen in Figures 11 and 12.
9 As also seen in Figure 7, a rubber seal 42 may be fit to the edges of three
sides of the
window 30.
11 In addition a rubber seal spacer 60 as seen in Figure 7 extends around the
outer perimeter
12 of the hoop support frames 24A, 24B with an enlarged bead portion filling
the gap between the
13 top guide support and the hoop support frames 24A, 24B.
14 The front plastic end panel 28B (Figure 7) is pressed against the spacer
portion and held
by adhesive or fasteners (not shown).
16 A weather shield piece 62 (Figure 7) covers the window edge, and a rubber
shield 64
17 extends onto and across the rear wall of the cargo bed 12.
18 Figures 13-15 show an adjustable width rear hoop support frame 66 and
multisection
19 window assembly 68, and a modified form of the top guide rail 70.
The adjustable width hoop support frame 66 is comprised of end segments 72A,
72B
21 slidably receiving respective rods 74A, 74B. The rods 74A, 74B are held in
a center piece-hinge
22 76 for the window center section 78.
9
CA 02698193 2010-03-31
1 The modified top support rail 70 is configured to receive and retain a
mounting plug 80
2 of the center piece-hinge 76.
3 The window assembly 68 also includes two side sections 82A, 82B which are
attached to
4 the inside of the hoop support frames 72A, 72B to be moved therewith when
width adjustments
are being made. The side sections 82A, 82B overlap behind a center panel 84 to
accommodate
6 width adjustments.
7 The cap 18 can be collapsed to be converted into a hard panel tonneau cover
as shown in
8 Figures 16-20 by removing the top guide rail 26 and side panels 32 and
lowering the hoop
9 support frames 24A, 24B. In this embodiment, the hoop support frames 86 are
formed with an
upwardly projecting shallowly curved lip 88 (Figure 19) which defines a convex
shape of said
11 panels 32 which are reinstalled with an overlapping relationship (Figure
17).
12 In this embodiment, a special extra wide top guide rail 90 may be used to
cover the lap
13 joint of side panels 32. A power operation can be provided by a suitable
electric driven linkage
14 causing lowering of the hoop support frames 24A,24B.
Figure 20 shows an adapter 92 for the side rail guides 22 to provide a
generally horizontal
16 slot 94 to be more closely aligned with the orientation of the side panels
32 when used as a
17 tonneau cover.
18 Thus, a simple cap structure is provided which is low in cost to
manufacture and can be
19 shipped and/or stored in a compact space, and is easily adapted to
different width cargo beds, and
can be installed or removed by one person.
21
22
