Tonneau cover with prop rod assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11718166-B2
Application number	US-202117179962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2021
Priority date	Mar 10, 2016
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A pickup truck that includes a cab section located in front of a bed section is provided. The pickup truck comprises a tonneau cover that covers the bed section. The tonneau cover includes a plurality of panel sections; and wherein each of the plurality of panel sections is movable with respect to each other to allow access to, or conceal the bed section underneath. At least one prop rod assembly includes a longitudinally extending first rod having a first end and a second end. The first end of the longitudinally extending first rod is pivotably and removably coupled to a side rail that is secured to the first side of the bed section, and the second end of the longitudinally extending first rod is located opposite the first end and pivotably coupled to the first latch assembly of the third panel section.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A tonneau cover that covers at least a portion of a bed section of a pickup truck that includes a cab section located in front of the bed section, the tonneau cover comprising:
at least one panel section;
wherein the at least one panel section is movable with respect to the bed section of the pickup truck;
a side rail secured to a first side wall of the bed section;
a longitudinally extending first prop rod having a first end and a second end; and
a prop rod base located on an underside surface of the at least one panel section;
wherein the prop rod base pivotally holds the first end of the longitudinally extending prop rod at an acute angle from the underside surface of the at least one panel section; and
wherein the second end of the longitudinally extending first prop rod is pivotally coupled to the prop rod base.

2. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending first prop rod is movable at the second end to move the longitudinally extending first prop rod in a first direction toward the underside of the at least one panel section and a second direction away from the underside of at least one panel section.

3. The tonneau cover of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinally extending first prop rod is also movable at the second end to move the longitudinally extending first prop rod in third and fourth directions, wherein the third and fourth directions are each transverse to the first and second directions such that the first prop rod is movable across the underside of the at least one panel section in addition to being movable toward and away from the underside of the at least one panel section.

4. The tonneau cover of claim 3 , wherein the first end of the longitudinally extending first prop rod includes a rod fitting having an opening configured to receive a ball stud that is coupled to the side rail that is secured to the first side wall of the bed section to selectively secure and release the first prop rod to and from the side rail.

5. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , further comprising a first clip attached to the underside surface of the at least one panel section.

6. The tonneau cover of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the first prop rod is movable laterally away from the side rail and over the underside surface of the at least one panel section to be selectively held by the first clip over the underside surface of the at least one panel section.

7. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , further comprising a base panel connected to the at least one panel section and attached to the truck bed section, wherein the base panel is not movable with respect to the bed section.

8. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinally extending second prop rod having a first end and a second end, a second prop rod base located on an underside surface of the at least one panel section, wherein the second end of the longitudinally extending second prop rod is pivotally coupled to the second prop rod base, wherein the second prop rod base pivotally holds the first end of the longitudinally extending second prop rod at an acute angle from the underside surface of the at least one panel section.

9. The tonneau cover of claim 8 , wherein the longitudinally extending second prop rod is movable at the second end to move the longitudinally extending second prop rod in a first direction toward the underside surface of the at least one panel section and a second direction away from the underside surface of the at least one panel section, wherein the longitudinally extending second prop rod is also movable at the second end to move the longitudinally extending second prop rod in third and fourth directions, wherein the third and fourth directions are each transverse to the first and second directions such that the longitudinally extending second prop rod is movable across the underside of the a least one panel section in addition to being movable toward and away from the underside of the at least one panel section, wherein the first end of the longitudinally extending second prop rod includes a rod fitting having an opening that receives a ball stud that is coupled to the side rail that is secured to the first side wall of the bed section to selectively secure and release the longitudinally extending second prop rod to and from the side rail, and a second clip attached to the underside surface of the at least one panel section, wherein at least a portion of the longitudinally extending second rod is movable laterally away from the side rail and over the underside surface of the at least one panel section to be selectively held by the second clip over the underside surface of the at least one panel section.

10. A tonneau cover that covers at least a portion of a bed section of a pickup truck that includes a cab section located in front of the bed section, the tonneau cover comprising:
a plurality of panel sections;
wherein each of the plurality of panel sections is movable;
a prop rod having a first end and a second end; and
a prop rod base located on an underside of one of the plurality of panel sections;
wherein the prop rod base pivotally holds the first end of the prop rod at an acute angle from the underside of the one of the plurality of panel sections; and
wherein the second end of the at least one prop rod is pivotally coupled to the prop rod base.

11. The tonneau cover of claim 10 , wherein the at least one prop rod is movable at the second end to move the at least one prop rod in a first direction toward the underside of the one of the plurality of panel sections and a second direction away from the underside of the one of the plurality of panel sections.

12. The tonneau cover of claim 11 , wherein the at least one prop rod is also movable at the second end to move the at least one prop rod in third and fourth directions, wherein the third and fourth directions are each transverse to the first and second directions such that the at least one prop rod is movable across the underside of the one of the plurality of panel sections in addition to being movable toward and away from the underside of the one of the plurality of panel sections.

13. The tonneau cover of claim 10 , further comprising a first clip attached to the one of the plurality of panel sections and selectively receives the at least one prop rod.

14. The tonneau cover of claim 10 , further comprising a second prop rod having a first end and a second end, a second prop rod base located on the underside of the one of the plurality of panel sections, wherein the second end of the second prop rod is pivotally coupled to the second prop rod base, wherein the second prop rod base pivotally holds the first end of the second prop rod at an acute angle from the underside of the one of the plurality of panel sections.

15. The tonneau cover of claim 13 , a side rail that is secured to a first side wall of the bed section.

16. The tonneau cover of claim 15 , wherein the first clip selectively receives and holds a portion of the at least one prop rod while not coupled to the side rail that is secured to the first side wall of the bed section.

17. A tonneau cover that covers at least a portion of a bed section of a pickup truck that includes a cab section located in front of the bed section, the tonneau cover comprising:
a plurality of panel sections;
wherein each of the plurality of panel sections is movable; and
a prop rod base located on an underside of one of the plurality of panel sections;
wherein a portion of the prop rod base is positioned at an acute angle away from the

Assignees

• Truck Access Group Llc
• Leer Group

Inventors

• Dylewski Ii Eugene A
• Cook Adrian
• Mcgraw Justin J
• Mattison Christopher Davie
• Mcdonald Ii Ernest M

Classifications

• B60J7/198 Primary

  for locking tonneau covers such as covers for roof storage compartments or for pick-up truck beds · CPC title

• B60J7/141

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