Accessory system for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11738627-B2
Application number	US-202016915446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2020
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A tonneau cover system for a vehicle includes at least two panels configured to collaboratively form a container. The at least two panels extend laterally when connected to a tonneau of the vehicle. A first panel is movable between an open position and a closed position to gain access to an interior space defined by the container. In the closed position, the first panel extends parallel to a floor of the tonneau. A second panel is selectively placed in a cover or a storage position. In the cover position, the second panel extends parallel to the floor to collaboratively cover at least part of the tonneau. In the storage position, the second panel extends perpendicular to the first panel in the closed position. The first and second panels collaboratively form the container when the first panel is in the closed position and the second panel is in the storage position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tonneau cover system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a tonneau configured for cargo storage, the system comprising:
at least two panels configured to be connected to the tonneau, the at least two panels being configured to collaboratively form a container, the at least two panels being configured to extend laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle when the at least two panels are connected to the tonneau, the at least two panels including:
a first panel that, when connected to the tonneau, is movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively gain access to an interior space defined by the container, the first panel being configured to extend generally parallel to a floor of the tonneau when the first panel is in the closed position;
a second panel that, when connected to the tonneau, is selectively placed in a cover position and a storage position,
in the cover position, the second panel extending generally parallel to the floor of the tonneau to collaboratively cover at least part of the tonneau with the first panel in the closed position,
in the storage position, the second panel extending generally perpendicular to the first panel when the first panel is in the closed position, the first and second panels collaboratively forming the container when the first panel is in the closed position and the second panel is in the storage position;

at least two supporting posts configured to be connected to the tonneau, each of the at least two supporting posts defining at least one slot to receive therein the second panel in the storage position,
the at least one slot being a plurality of slots, the slots of the plurality of slots being configured to receive therein respective ones of the at least two panels other than the first panel;

each panel of the at least two panels having a panel length and a panel width;
the panel width of each panel extending laterally along the vehicle when the panel is connected to the tonneau, the panel length of the panel being measured perpendicularly to the panel width;
at least one panel of the at least two panels other than the first panel comprising at least one anchor fixture connected to a panel body of the at least one panel;
each of the at least one anchor fixture defining an anchor aperture configured to at least partially receive therein an anchor connected to an accessory so as to mount the accessory to the at least one panel; and
the slots of each of the at least two supporting posts being arranged such that, when one of the slots receives therein one of the at least one panel and an adjacent one of the slots receives therein an other panel of the at least two panels, the anchor fixture of the at least one panel is disposed between the panel body of the at least one panel and the other panel, and is spaced from the other panel.

2. The tonneau cover system of claim 1 , further comprising a lining configured to be connected to the tonneau, the lining comprising two side walls that extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle when the lining is connected to the tonneau, the at least two panels being connected to the tonneau by the lining.

3. The tonneau cover system of claim 1 , wherein the first panel is configured to be selectively connected to the tonneau so as to be, amongst the at least two panels, closest to a front end of the tonneau.

4. The tonneau cover system of claim 1 , wherein the first panel is configured to be selectively connected to the tonneau so as to be closer to a rear end of the tonneau than to a front end of the tonneau.

5. The tonneau cover system of claim 1 , wherein the first panel is configured to be selectively connected to the tonneau at any one of a plurality of locations along the tonneau.

6. The tonneau cover system of claim 1 , wherein:
each panel of the at least two panels comprises a panel body;
at least one panel of the at least two panels comprises at least one anchor fixture connected to the panel body of the at least one panel; and
each of the at least one anchor fixture defines an anchor aperture configured to at least partially receive therein an anchor connected to an accessory so as to mount the accessory to the at least one panel.

7. The tonneau cover system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one panel includes the first panel and the second panel.

8. The tonneau cover system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least two panels includes a third panel that, when connected to the tonneau, is selectively placed in a cover position and a storage position;
in the cover position of the third panel, the third panel extends generally parallel to the floor of the tonneau to collaboratively cover at least part of the tonneau with the first panel in the closed position and the second panel in the cover position;
in the storage position of the third panel, the third panel extends generally perpendicular to the first panel when the first panel is in the closed position; and
when the second panel is in the storage position and the third panel is in the storage position, the first panel and one of the second panel and the third panel collaboratively form the container when the first panel is in the closed position.

9. The tonneau cover system of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least two panels includes a fourth panel that, when connected to the tonneau, is selectively placed in a cover position and a storage position;
in the cover position of the fourth panel:
the fourth panel extends generally parallel to the floor of the tonneau to collaboratively cover at least part of the tonneau with the first panel in the closed position, the second panel in the cover position, and the third panel in the cover position;
the fourth panel is closer to a rear end of the tonneau than the first, second and third panels;

in the storage position of the fourth panel, the fourth panel extends generally perpendicular to the first panel when the first panel is in the closed position;
each panel of the at least two panels has a panel length and a panel width;
the panel width of each panel extends laterally along the vehicle when the panel is connected to the tonneau, the panel length of the panel being measured perpendicularly to the panel width; and
the panel length of the fourth panel is smaller than the panel lengths of the first, second and third panels.

10. The tonneau cover system of claim 8 , wherein, when the second panel is in the storage position and the third panel is in the storage position, an other one of the second panel and the third panel is disposed inside the container.

11. The tonneau cover system of claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises a locking device to secure the first panel in the closed position.

12. The tonneau cover system of claim 1 , wherein:
each panel of the at least two panels has a panel length and a panel width;
the panel width of each panel extends laterally along the vehicle when the panel is connected to the tonneau, the panel length of the panel being measured perpendicularly to the panel width; and
the panel lengths of the at least two panels are different from each other.

13. A tonneau cover system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a tonneau configured for cargo storage, the tonneau having a tonneau width measured laterally along the vehicle, the system comprising:
a pivotable panel that, when connected to the tonneau, is movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively gain access to an interior space defined by a container, the pivotable panel being configured to extend generally parallel to a floor of the tonneau when the pivotable panel is in

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Fournier Eric
• Martin Hugo
• Dumont Maxime
• Robillard Pierre-Luc
• Bourassa Michel

Classifications

• B60P1/435 Primary

  the ramp being attached to or making part of the side- or tailboards of the vehicle · CPC title

• B60J7/141 Primary

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

• B60J7/198

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

• B60R9/065

  Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. trunks · CPC title

• B60J7/041 Primary

  for utility vehicles, e.g. with slidable and foldable rigid panels · CPC title