Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
2123617 -
8LAT BLOCR AND GUIDE TRACX APPARA~U8
FOR RO~LING TR~CR B~D COVER
BACKGROUND OF TR~ INVENTION
. Field of the Invent~on
This invention relates generally to slatted rolling truck
utility bed covers and, in particular, to an improved slat block
and guide track apparatus for use in combination with a
retractable rolling cover of a pickup truck utility bed.
2. De~cription of the Prior Art
Truck bed covers are well known consumer items used to
protect a truck's utility bed and items placed therein. By
securing a cover to the side rails of the truck bed, an
enclosure is formed capable of protecting items placed therein
against theft and exposure to the elements. The cover provides
an aerodynamic profile and, depending upon the overall shape and
profile, enhances gasoline mileage.
Retractable or rolling covers mounted on a roll up reel
mechanism are known for their ability to securely cover the
utility bed of a pickup truck. A rolling cover is comprised of
elongated plastic or metal slats hinged together along top and
bottom edges and disposed between a pair of parallel, opposed
guide tracks, anchored to opposite sides of the utility truck
bed walls. One end of the retractable cover is connected to a
rotatable reel about which the cover can be rolled.
Disadvantages of the construction of the prior art are that the
rolling cover can leak water from rain and often is susceptible
to lateral dynamic vibrations and lateral drag. Other problems
are that the bottom profile of each slat can often cause jamming
at the entrances to the guide tracks during closing of the cover
over the bed and a thumping noise when the cover is moved in
either direction.
U.S. Patent No. 4,807,921 issued to Champie, discloses a
sliding cover for truck beds which uses runner tracks
- 2123617
permanently anchored to the truck bed. Champie discloses the
use of metal slats that extend across the truck bed and are
supported along the bottom by rubber grommets that assist in
directing water through the guide track and outboard of the
truck bed. The problem with the Champie device is that the side
and upper enclosure of the slats have no mechanism to prevent
rattling or to prevent jamming at the juncture of each of the
interconnected slats.
U.S. Patent No. 4,784,427 issued to ~urgess discloses a
tension wound cover for maintaining truck roller slats in a
rigid position but also does not address jaD ing of the shutters
during the opening and closing thereof. Burgess employs a rail
which permanently attaches to the truck for securing of the
cover. Burgess discloses the use o~ guide tracks that have C-
shaped runners to help prevent rattling of the slats in a
longitudinal and vertical position. The Burgess device is
complicated, relying upon tension for proper operation.
U.S. Patent No. 4,889,381, issued to Tamblyn et al.
December 26, 1989, and U.S. Patent No. 4,611,848 issued to
Romano September 16, 1986, show a retractable truck bed cover
using wheels attached to the slats, which increase cost,
maintenance, and possibilities of jamming.
The instant invention addresses the aforementioned problems
by providing a slat block and guide track system for use in
conjunction with horizontally disposed, retractable rolling
slats of a truck utility bed to provide water resistant, jam and
rattle-free construction in a cost effective system.
8UMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A slat block and guide track apparatus is provided for use
with a retractable, rolling truck utility bed cover. The truck
bed cover body is comprised of a plurality of rigid slats joined
together in a hinged, relatively pivotal, side-by-side array.
The ends of the slats on both sides are slidably mounted within
a pair of elongated guide tracks, each having a lower plastic
runner upon which the slat ends rest by gravity, disposed in
parallel relation to one another on the upper portion of the
2123617 --
truck utility bed sidewalls. The cover body is connected at one
end to a spring-actuated, roll-up reel which in turn is attached
to a reel housing secured to the front area of the pickup truck
utility bed. The cover body can be manually rolled up and
stored in the reel housing or manually extended to completely
cover the truck bed or predetermined areas thereof along the
guide tracks.
Each slat is a thin, rigid, elongated plastic or metal
(preferably aluminum) strip substantially rectangular with
partially circular, interlocking channels of concentrically
different diameters along the longer edges. The channels form
hinges which permit pivotal movement between adjacent slats for
roll up purposes. The smaller diameter (inner mounted) channel
includes a resilient (rubber or plastic) weather strip having
bifurcated flanges to prevent moisture from penetrating through
the hinge areas. Rain water striking the top of the cover body,
is deflected laterally along the hinges until reaching the slat
ends where water entering the hinge areas is diverted into the
guide track for removal by the slat end blocks described herein.
Each slat end has connected thereto a slat block
constructed of a one piece, molded plastic member for rigid
connection at the end of and against a portion of the bottom
side of each slat, the slat block providing contoured surface
areas for slidable contact with the lower runner in each guide
track entrance and water diversion into the guide tracks away
from the interior bed. The slat blocks (two for each slat, one
at each slat end) have exposed flat end cap surfaces that can
contact as a bearing surface the guide track inside wall
laterally to limit lateral movement of the body cover from side
to side, the spacing being very small. The slat blocks are
configured for left and right usage as mirror images and are
identically sized in length, width, thickness and contour to fit
below the open end of each slat between the interlocking hinge
channels for a snug fit. Each slat block has an exposed bottom
arcuate surface that provides a smooth arcuate contact area for
- 21236 1.7
-smooth movement of the slat ends as each slat enters or exists
the guide track entrance on each side.
In particular, the slat blocks of the instant invention are
for use in combination with the slats of the retractable rolling
cover as fully disclosed in Applicant's co-pending U.S. patent
application entitled "ROLLING COVER FOR A TRUCK UTILITY BED
HAVING IMPROVED REEL SUPPaRT HOUSING AND GUIDE TRACK CLAMPS"
filed on July 30, 1992 under Serial No. 07/922,745, the
disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein.
The slat block in accordance with the present invention
provides many integrated functions to improve the operation and
use of the rolling cover. Each slat block includes a vertical
channel for diverting water away from the top of the cover body
down into the guide tracks where it is disposed of without
entering the truck bed itself and a top lateral water diverting
channel that also prevents water from entering the seam between
the slat body edge and the slat block edge, again preventing
water from entering the truck bed. The water diverting channel
is a groove along the top surface of the slat block near the cap
end which runs from one top edge of the slat block to the
opposite side edge. Water received in the slat block channel
travels to the block edge where it falls by gravity into the
guide track below and drains without entering the truck bed.
The slat blocks also provide for smooth contact between the
slat block bottoms and the guide track entrance. The arcuate
shaped exposed bottom surface of each slat block provides a
sufficiently smooth surface area for continuous contact between
the slat blocks and the lower guide track runner at the entrance
so that movement of the slats into and out of the guide track
entrance is jam-free and noise-free. The arcuate shape and
profile of the bottom surface of each slat block also provides
sufficient curvature to accommodate proper clearance at the
transition entrance into each guide track passageway to prevent
jamming and thumping noises. The slat block bottom bridges the
3~ space between the slat edge hinges which would otherwise hang up
or thump against the guide track entrance. Each guide track
- 212361 7
.
-- 5 --
entrance lower runner diverges angularly downwardly to work in
conjunction with the slat block arcuate shape so that the angle
of the cover body between the reel and the entrance to the guide
track in conjunction with the arcuate shape of the slat block
prevents jamming when the cover is unrolled for continuous
movement as the cover enters each guide track on each side. The
lower vinyl runner mounted in the guide track engages the lower
surface of each slat guide providing non-metal contact to
reduce, if not eliminate, rattling and thumping noises. Each
guide track has a horizontally disposed C-shaped channel that
receives the slat block end caps which limit lateral movement of
the cover body.
The slat blocks provide for jam-free, noise-free transition
of the slatted body of the bed cover body into and out of the
guide tracks. The slats pivot relative to each other to allow
the cover body to be rolled about the reel. The cover body path
drops angularly toward the reel between the guide track entrance
and the reel as the cover body nears the end attached to the
reel. The arcuate bottom surface of the slat block has curved
surface areas that ride on the lower guide track runner to
eliminate "thumping" sounds. Each slat block vertical end cap
surface is spaced about one-eighth inch from the inside guide
track vertical wall to prevent excessive independent lateral
movement of the cover body to prevent vibration noise which,
heretofore, was often prevented with the insertion of a screw
fastener into the inner hinge section at the end of each
interlocking pair of slats. The fastener provided no bearing
surface nor did it address the problem of slat entry into the
guide tracks. The slat block end cap vertical surface acts as
a bearing surface against the guide track for noise-free,
reduced friction movement.
To prevent jamming at the entrance to the guide track on
each side, the slat blocks have a predetermined arcuate profile
to move by the guide track angularly diverging downward entrance
near the reel housing. The guide track entrance accommodates
the arcuate curvature of each slat end guide to provide a smooth
- 2123617
transition of the bed cover to the guide tracks. The protruding
hinge channels of the slats do not snag or hang up on the guide
track entrance regardless of the direction of movement of the
slats for opening or closing the bed cover. The slats can be
tightly rolled about the storage reel allowing for a smaller
storage area thus providing additional room in the utility bed
when the bed cover body is stored in the reel housing.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide
improved truck bed cover slat blocks that are used in
conjunction with parallel guide tracks to provide a jam-free and
noise-free apparatus for use with retractable utility bed
covers.
Another object of the invention is to provide arcuately-
shaped slat blocks that, when mounted to the ends of slats of a
utility bed cover, work in conjunction with the guide track
entrances allowing the cover to be moved and rolled on a reel in
both directions without jamming or making a thumping noise.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a slat
block for a rolling truck bed cover that prevents water from
reaching the truck bed interior, in a cost effective system of
high reliability.
In accordance with these and other objects which will be
apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now become
described with particular reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D~AWING8
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a rolling truck bed
cover partially cutaway to show slat blocks utilized in
accordance with the present invention.
30Figure lA is a perspective view of a slat block used with
the invention.
Figure 2 is a bottom plan view, partially cutaway, of one
end of the truck bed cover, showing a pair of slats, slat ends,
and a pair of slat blocks connected together, wherein the slats
are interlocked in a hinged ~anner.
2123617
Figure 3 is an end view in elevation of the slat block
shown in Figure 1, taken from the narrower end view.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view, partially in cross
section, of a portion of the truck bed cover, mounted on a reel
contained in the reel housing and showing one guide track
entrance at the reel housing.-
Figure 5 is a front, cross sectional view of one guidetrack and clamp apparatus used with the truck bed and a portion
of one slat block and slat end resting on the lower runner in
the guide track.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a slat end and the slat
block exploded.
DESCRIPTION OF T~B PREFERRED ENBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings and in particular Figure 1,
a truck bed cover in accordance with the present invention is
shown, comprised of a plurality of slats 14, each slat end
having attached thereto a slat block 10 which is mounted inside
guide track 30 connected to the truck walls 12.
Each slat 14 is essentially a thin (~"~ metal or rigid
plastic strip which is elongated and sized to reach from one
side of the truck bed to the other laterally. Along each
sidewall of the truck bed are mounted a pair of guide tracks 30
that are connected to the truck bed walls 12 as described in my
previous patent application cited above. Each slat 14 has
integrally formed therein, two different hinge members on the
leading and trailing edges, each of which interlocks pivotally
with an adjacent slat 14 in a side-by-side array. A resilient
seal (water resistent) is placed in each inner hinge channel,
which is described in more detail below.
As shown in Figure lA, the slat end block 10 includes a
lower arcuate surface 102 and a flat upper surface 101. A water
diverting channel 103 is formed by a longitudinal groove that
runs from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the slat
block 10 near apertures 16 which receives screws or rivets to
attach the slat block 10 to a slat end not shown in Figure lA.
2123617
-- 8 --
The slat block 10 also includes an extended end cap 104-having
a curved forward extending end 107 which conforms and aligns
with the hinge interlocking adjacent slats covering the inner
and outer hinge passages which are interlocked. A vertical
channel 106 is used for diverting water downwardly into the
guide track below as water moves laterally across the upper
surfaces of hinge members to the outer ends of the slats. A
raised lip 105 defines the inner block portion upper surface 101
from an outer cap raised surface 104, the lip portion 105 being
substantially the thickness of the slat body so that when the
slat block is placed adjacent and flush with the bottom surface
of the slat, the top surface of the slat and the end block cap
104 are flush. The leading and trailing end portions of the
lower arcuate surface 102 provide contact points for the guide
track lower runner, as described in more detail below.
The slat block water diverting channel 103 prevents water
that may seep in between the end cap upper surface 104 and an
upper surface of the slat body seam along lip 105. Water cannot
pass groove 103, but enters into the groove 103 and is
transferred out either end of the groove into the guide track
below and away from the truck bed.
Figure 2 shows a pair of slats 14 joined together along the
leading and trailing edges by hinges 18 and having a pair of
slat blocks 10 attached to the slats 14 by rivets 110. The
vertical water diverting channel 106 is shown near the end faces
of the hinges 18. Channel 106 prevents water from being trapped
in the hinge and provides for water divergence into the guide
track below.
Figure 3 shows an end elevational view of the slat block 10
shown in Figure 1. Note that the bottom surface 102 profile
conforms to the end surface profile of end cap 104 as shown in
Figure lA. The slat block 10 also includes lower surface areas
107a and 102a which provide surface contact areas that allow the
slat block to smoothly engage the lower runner surface smoothly
at the guide track entrance. The vertical water diverting
- 2123617
channel 106 is also shown that allows water to flow by gravity
into the guide track channel.
Figure 4 shows a part of the truck bed cover having one end
attached to a rotatable, spring-actuated (not shown) reel 24.
The truck cover guide track housing 30 is shown which is used on
one side of the truck bed wall and which receives the slat ends
and the slat block 10. Elongated plastic seals 26 are shown
mounted in circular hinges 18 which are constructed of
interlocking covered end channels to allow pivotal movement of
adjacent slats. The lower track of the track guide 30a is
mounted on the truck wall and includes a groove therein which
holds a vinyl or plastic runner 20, upon which the slats glide
whenever the truck bed cover is opened or closed. The lower
runner entrance 2Oa is sloped downwardly relative to the upper
guide track runner 20 at the entrance to the guide track in
conjunction with the bottom arcuate surface 102 of each slat
block 10 to provide smooth contact transition when the truck bed
cover is moved (especially inwardly for closing the cover) so
that the hinge members 18 do not jam or thump and the block
surface 102 does not scrape along the entrance opening 20a.
Figure 5 shows the slat block 10 connected by rivet 110 to
slat end 14. Note how the slat block end cap 104 is spaced very
close to vertical guide track wall 32 so that there is minimal
independent lateral movement of the entire cover. The end
vertical face or surface of the slat block which is plastic acts
as a bearing surface when contacting the vertical wall 32. Also
note the C-shaped channel in the guide track housing defined by
upper wall 30b, side wall 32 and the lower surface 30aiwhich
receives water that drops from the water diverting groove 103
for removal so that water will not reach into the truck bed
housing. An upper vinyl runner 22 is also provided to prevent
upward movement. As shown in Figure S, the entire guide track
assembly is attached to a truck sidewall 62 as described in my
previous patent application.
Figure 6 shows how the slat blocks 10 which are made as
left and right and in mirror image of each other fit into the
2t~617
-- 10 --
slat end so that the curved protruding portion of the slat block
end 107 extends and covers over the curved hinge larger diameter
channel 18 which receives an adjacent slat smaller curved hinge
portion 18a. Rivets 110 fit into the holes 14a in slat 14 and
also into the hole 16 in the slat block 10.
Utilizing the slat block, slat construction and guide
tracks in accordance with the present invention, the slat block
accomplishes water diversion to prevent water from being
received into the truck bed, jam-free operation when opening and
especially closing the truck bed cover at the entrance to the
guide tracks and noise-free, vibration-free operation as the
cover moves along the guide track runners and also, independent
lateral movement is prevented without metal-to-metal contact or
noise.
lS The instant invention has been shown and described herein
in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be
made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that
obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
