Flexible powered tonneau cover for a pickup truck bed

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173506-B2
Application number	US-201615354374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2016
Priority date	Nov 17, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus for covering a pickup truck bed is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible cover for selectively extending to at least partially cover the pickup truck bed and at least partially retracting to form a roll. A first motor is provided for extending the flexible cover, and a second motor is provided for driving the roll to retract the flexible cover. A front wall adjacent to an operator's cab of the pickup truck may include a housing for the roll. The flexible cover may include at least one support extending transverse to a travel direction secured at least partially within a pocket formed therein. A water management system may be provided for keeping water from entering the bed. A controller may tie operation of the flexible cover to the operation of any of a light, a tailgate, a remote control, or a control connected with the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus for selectively covering a pickup truck bed, comprising:
a flexible cover extendable to at least partially cover the pickup truck bed and retractable to form a roll;
a first motor for extending the flexible cover; and
a second motor for driving the roll to retract the flexible cover, but not for use in extending the flexible cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a flexible cable connected to the flexible cover, wherein the first motor is adapted for engaging the flexible cable to extend the flexible cover.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further including a guide tube for at least partially receiving the flexible cable.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including at least one cross bow for supporting the flexible cover when extended over the pickup truck bed and forming part of the roll when the flexible cover is hilly retracted.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cross bow is secured within a pocket in the flexible cover.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a flexible seal for sealing between a sidewall partially forming the pickup truck bed and the flexible cover.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a cap for a sidewall partially forming the pickup truck bed, the cap providing a drain path for draining water away from the pickup truck bed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a controller for tying operation of the flexible cover to an operation of one or more of a light, a tailgate, a remote control, or a vehicle control.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a controller controls the first motor to halt and the second motor to continue to drive the roll to pull the cover taut in the extended condition.

10. A pickup truck including the apparatus of claim 1 .

11. An apparatus for selectively covering a pickup truck bed, comprising:
a flexible cover for extending in a travel direction to at least partially cover the pickup truck bed and retracting to at least partially expose the pickup truck bed, the flexible cover including at least one pocket;
at least one support extending transverse to the travel direction secured at least partially within the pocket;
a flexible seal for sealing between a sidewall partially forming the pickup truck bed and the flexible cover, and
a motor for extending and retracting the flexible cover.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the support comprises a cross bow for supporting the flexible cover when extended over the pickup truck bed and forming part of a roll when the flexible cover is fully retracted.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the motor comprises a first motor for extending the cover, and further including a second motor for retracting the cover to form a roll, but not for use in extending the flexible cover.

14. A pickup truck including the apparatus of claim 11 .

15. An apparatus for transporting cargo, comprising:
a pickup truck including a bed having a front wall adjacent to an operator's cab of the pickup truck;
a flexible cover for selectively extending to at least partially cover the pickup truck bed and at least partially retracting to form a roll including at least one support for supporting the flexible cover; and
a housing including the roll and connected to the front wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further including a motor for extending the flexible cover, the motor being at least partially within the housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , further including a motor for rotating the roll, the motor being at least partially within the housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , further including sidewalls forming sides of the bed, and further including caps adapted for being secured to the sidewalls, the caps being adapted for guiding the flexible cover.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein each cap includes a drain path for guiding water away from the bed.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , further including a controller for tying operation of the flexible cover to the operation of one or more of a light, a tailgate, a remote control, or a vehicle control.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Nania Adrian

Classifications

• B60J7/068 Primary

  for utility vehicles, e.g. of tarpaulin or roller-blind type · CPC title

• B60Y2200/14

  Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses · CPC title

• B60J10/90

  specially adapted for non-fixed roofs, e.g. foldable roofs or removable hard-tops · CPC title

• B60J10/25

  characterised by water drainage means · CPC title

• B60P7/04

  by tarpaulins or like flexible members · CPC title