Telescoping truck bed shell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10414258-B2
Application number	US-201816174090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2018
Priority date	Apr 3, 2017
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

A telescoping truck bed shell is disclosed herein. The truck bed shell is capable of being retracted so that the user can have full access to the truck bed and also extended so that the user can have a protected volume at the truck bed in order to store things. The telescoping truck bed has traversable frames and a traversable cover wherein the frames and cover may be traversed between extended and retracted positions depending on whether the truck bed shell is being deployed or stored.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A truck comprising:
a cab having a roof;
a truck bed coupled to the cab, the truck bed having first and second sidewalls and a tailgate; and
a collapsible shell having:
a plurality of first frames moveable with respect to each other, the plurality of first frames being mounted to the first sidewall, the plurality of first frames being traversable between a stored position, wherein the plurality of first frames are retracted with respect to each other, and a deployed position wherein the plurality of first frames are extended out with respect to each other, each of the plurality of first frames extending from the first sidewall to define a first frame height, the first frame height of the plurality of first frames being non-uniform;
a plurality of second frames moveable with respect to each other, the plurality of second frames being mounted to the second sidewall, the plurality of second frames being traversable independent from the plurality of first frames between a stored position, wherein the plurality of second frames are retracted to each other, and a deployed position wherein the plurality of second frames are extended out with each other, each of the plurality of second frames extending from the second sidewall to define a second frame height, the second frame height of the plurality of second frames being non-uniform; and
a cover traversable between a stored position and an extended position, the cover extending over the plurality of first and second frames as the cover transitions from the stored position toward the extended position;
wherein when the cover is in the stored position and the plurality of first and second frames are in the stored position, a full length of the truck bed is usable, and when the cover is in the extended position and the plurality of first and second frames are in the extended position, the collapsible shell forms a covered interior volume over the truck bed.

2. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the first frame height decreases in a direction from the cab toward the tailgate.

3. The truck of claim 2 , wherein the first frame height linearly decreases.

4. The truck of claim 1 , wherein the second frame height decreases in a direction from the cab toward the tailgate.

5. The truck of claim 4 , wherein the second frame height linearly decreases.

6. The truck of claim 1 , further comprising a weather strip positionable between the collapsible shell and the cab to form a water tight seal between the collapsible shell and the cab.

7. The truck of claim 1 further comprising:
first and second tracks mounted to the first and second sidewalls;
a plurality of first and second sliders mounted to the plurality of first and second frames, the plurality of first and second sliders slidably engaged to the first and second tracks.

8. The truck of claim 1 further comprising a shield disposed over the cover when the cover is in the stored position over the roof of the cab.

9. The truck of claim 8 wherein the shield is traversable between an open position and a use position wherein in the open position, the cover is traversable from the stored position to the extended position, and in the stored position, the cover provides an aerodynamic shield for the cover when the cover is in the stored position.

10. The truck of claim 9 wherein the shield is rotatably attached to the roof of the cab.

11. The truck of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first and second frames are panels.

12. A collapsible shell attachable to a truck having a cab and a truck bed, the cab defining a roof, and the truck bed defining first and second sidewalls and a tailgate, the collapsible shell comprising:
a plurality of first frames moveable with respect to each other, the plurality of first frames being mounted to the first sidewall, the plurality of first frames being traversable between a stored position, wherein the plurality of first frames are retracted with respect to each other, and a deployed position wherein the plurality of first frames are extended out with respect to each other, each of the plurality of first frames extending from the first sidewall to define a first frame height, the first frame height of the plurality of first frames being non-uniform;
a plurality of second frames moveable with respect to each other, the plurality of second frames being mounted to the second sidewall, the plurality of second frames being traversable between a stored position, wherein the plurality of second frames are retracted to each other, and a deployed position wherein the plurality of second frames are extended out with each other, each of the plurality of second frames extending from the second sidewall to define a second frame height, the second frame height of the plurality of second frames being non-uniform;
a cover traversable between a stored position and an extended position wherein in the stored position and during use, the cover is disposed above a roof of the cab and in the extended position, the cover is engagable to the plurality of first and second frames to form an enclosed space at the bed of the truck;
wherein when the cover is in the stored position and the plurality of first and second frames are in the stored position during use, a full length of the truck bed is accessible, and when the cover is in the extended position and the plurality of first and second frames are in the extended position during use, the shell forms a covered interior volume over the truck bed.

13. The collapsible shell of claim 12 , wherein the first frame height decreases in a direction from the cab toward the tailgate.

14. The collapsible shell of claim 13 , wherein the first frame height linearly decreases.

15. The collapsible shell of claim 12 , wherein the second frame height decreases in a direction from the cab toward the tailgate.

16. The collapsible shell of claim 15 , wherein the second frame height linearly decreases.

17. The collapsible shell of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of panels, each panel being attachable to the first and second frame to provide a barrier.

18. The collapsible shell of claim 12 further comprising:
first and second tracks mountable to the first and second sidewalls;
a plurality of first and second sliders mounted to the plurality of first and second frames, the plurality of first and second sliders being slidably engaged to the first and second tracks during use.

19. The collapsible shell of claim 12 further comprising a shield attachable to the cab and disposable over the cover when the cover is in the stored position over the roof of the cab during use.

20. The collapsible shell of claim 12 wherein the plurality of first and second frames are panels.

Assignees

• Singer Nicholas J

Inventors

• Singer Nicholas J

Classifications

• B60J7/08

  of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position · CPC title

• B60P3/42

  convertible from one use to a different one (vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media, rail-and-road vehicles B60F) · CPC title

• B60J7/141 Primary

  for covering load areas, e.g. for pick-up trucks · CPC title

• B60J7/026

  with rigid non plate-like elements, e.g. for convertible vehicles · CPC title

• B62D33/04

  Enclosed load compartments {; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains (side curtains per se B60J5/065; tarpaulins per se B60J7/00, B60P7/04)} · CPC title