Tonneau cover with torsion element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11267323-B2
Application number	US-202016852714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2020
Priority date	Apr 20, 2020
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A tonneau cover that includes a first panel, a second panel, a hinge between the first panel and the second panel, and a torsion element between the first panel and the second panel. The torsion element applies an urging force onto one or both of the first panel and the second panel during movement of the first panel and/or the second panel about the hinge.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tonneau cover for at least partially covering a cargo area of a vehicle, the cargo area having a plurality of side walls, the tonneau cover comprising:
a first panel having a first panel top side and an opposing first panel bottom side, the first panel bottom side arranged to face an inside of the cargo area;
a second panel having a second panel top side and an opposing second panel bottom side, the second panel bottom side arranged to face the inside of the cargo area;
a hinge between the first panel and the second panel; and
a torsion element between the first panel and the second panel;
wherein the torsion element is configured to apply an urging force onto the first panel during movement of the tonneau cover into a first open configuration; wherein in the first open configuration, the first panel is folded relative to the second panel such that the first panel top side faces the second panel top side.

2. The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the torsion element has a Z shape.

3. The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the torsion element is a torsion bar.

4. The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the torsion element is a spring, a torsion spring, or a compression spring.

5. The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the torsion element is attached to the first panel or to the second panel, or the torsion element is free from direct attachment to the first panel or to the second panel.

6. The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the first panel or the second panel comprises a frame, and the torsion element is attached to the frame.

7. The tonneau cover according to claim 6 , wherein the frame comprises a recess into which the torsion element is at least partially received.

8. The tonneau cover according to claim 6 , wherein a bracket is attached to the frame, and the torsion element is in contact with the bracket.

9. The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises a third panel and a second hinge between the second panel and the third panel.

10. The tonneau cover according to claim 9 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises a fourth panel and a third hinge between the third panel and the fourth panel, wherein the torsion element is a first torsion element and the tonneau cover comprises a second torsion element between the third panel and the fourth panel.

11. The tonneau cover according to claim 10 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises a fifth panel and a fourth hinge between the fourth panel and the fifth panel, wherein the tonneau cover comprises a third torsion element between the fourth panel and the fifth panel.

12. The tonneau cover according to claim 11 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises a fourth torsion element between the fourth panel and the fifth panel.

13. The tonneau cover according to claim 11 , wherein the third torsion element is configured to apply an urging force onto at least the fourth panel during movement of the tonneau cover into a third open configuration, wherein in the third open configuration, a third panel bottom side of the third panel faces a top side of the fifth panel.

14. The tonneau cover according to claim 13 , wherein after the tonneau cover is moved into the third open configuration, the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel are arranged at an angle relative to the fifth panel.

15. The tonneau cover according to claim 10 , wherein the second torsion element is configured to apply an urging force onto at least the third panel during movement of the tonneau cover into a second open configuration, wherein in the second open configuration, the second panel bottom side of the second panel faces a top side of the fourth panel.

16. The tonneau cover according to claim 15 , wherein after the tonneau cover is moved into the second open configuration, the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel are in a generally horizontal orientation, relative to the cargo area.

17. The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein after the tonneau cover is moved into the first open configuration, the first panel and the second panel are in a generally horizontal orientation relative to the cargo area.

18. The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises a third panel, the third panel has a third panel top side and an opposing third panel bottom side, the third panel bottom side is arranged to face the inside of the cargo area, wherein the tonneau cover is foldable into a subsequent open configuration where the first panel and the second panel are folded relative to the third panel such that the first panel bottom side faces the third panel top side.

19. The tonneau cover according to claim 18 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises a fourth panel, the fourth panel has a fourth panel top side and an opposing fourth panel bottom side, the fourth panel bottom side is arranged to face the inside of the cargo area, wherein the tonneau cover is foldable into another subsequent open configuration where the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel are folded relative to the fourth panel such that the second panel bottom side faces the fourth panel top side.

20. The tonneau cover according to claim 19 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises another torsion element that assists with moving the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel relative to the fourth panel.

Assignees

• Tectum Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Facchinello Jerome
• Carter Chad A

Classifications

• B60J7/12 Primary

  foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts (B60J7/10, {B60J7/20} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60J7/141 Primary

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

• B60J7/196

  for locking or interconnecting rigid roof panels to each other · CPC title

• B60R5/045

  collapsible or transformable · CPC title