Low voltage system controller for a truck

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11780306-B2
Application number	US-202217897730-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2022
Priority date	Oct 26, 2018
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

A truck cap assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck is provided. The truck cap assembly may include a cap that sets on opposing side walls of the truck; a cap door located on the cap; a latch bar located on the cap; a controller located on the cap door; and a latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm. The controller is in electrical communication with an actuator that is coupled to a latch arm. A signal from the controller activates the actuator to move the latch arm. The latch arm is releasable from the latch bar to release the cap door.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A truck cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the truck cover assembly comprising:
a cover that spans to opposing side walls of the truck;
a first latch bar and a second latch bar;
a controller;
a first latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm; and
a second latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm;
wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the actuator of the first latch release assembly and the actuator of the second latch release assembly;
wherein at least one signal from the controller activates the actuator of the first latch release assembly to move the latch arm of the first latch release assembly and the actuator of the second latch release assembly to move the latch arm of the second latch release assembly; and
wherein the latch arm of the first latch release assembly is releaseable from the first latch bar and the latch arm of the second latch release assembly is releasable from the second latch bar to release the cover.

2. The truck cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the truck cover assembly is a tonneau cover.

3. The truck cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the truck cover assembly is selected from the group consisting of a folding panel tonneau cover, rolling tonneau cover, and fiberglass body tonneau cover.

4. The truck cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the latch arm of the first latch release assembly is released from the first latch bar the latch arm of the first latch release assembly pushes against the first latch bar and when the latch arm of the second latch release assembly is released from the second latch bar the latch arm of the second latch release assembly pushes against the second latch bar.

5. The truck cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an input device that sends a signal to the controller to release the latch arm of the first latch release assembly from the first latch bar to release the truck cover assembly, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting at least one of a keypad, a phone app, a key fob, a key, a Bluetooth device, a Wifi device, a RFID device, a NFC device, and a computer.

6. The truck cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a clip of the first latch release assembly that is pulled by the actuator.

7. The truck cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical override assembly located on the truck cover assembly which comprises: a rotating member, a first cable attached to a first post on the rotating member, wherein the first post is offset from an axis extending through the rotating member, wherein the first cable is attached to the latch arm of a rotary latch of the first latch release assembly so that as the rotating member rotates the first cable moves to move the latch arm of the rotary latch of the first latch release assembly to release from the first latch bar.

8. The truck cover assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a key cylinder that is rotated which rotates the rotating member.

9. The truck cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical override assembly located on the truck cover assembly, the mechanical override assembly comprises: a rotating member, a first cable attached to a first post on the rotating member, a second cable attached to a second post on the rotating member, wherein the first post and the second post are located offset from an axis of rotation of the rotating member, wherein the first cable is attached to the latch arm of a rotary latch of the first latch release assembly and the second cable is attached to the latch arm of a rotary latch of the second latch release assembly, wherein as the rotating member rotates both first and second cables move so the first cable moves the latch arm of the rotary latch of the first latch release assembly to release from the first latch bar and the second cable moves the latch arm of the rotary latch of the second latch release assembly to release from the second latch bar.

10. The truck cover assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a key cylinder that is rotated which rotates the rotating member.

11. A truck cover assembly that selectively covers a truck bed of a truck, the truck cover assembly comprising:
a cover that spans to opposing side walls of the truck;
at least one latch bar;
a controller;
a latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm; and
wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the actuator of the latch release assembly;
wherein at least one signal from the controller activates the actuator of the latch release assembly to move the latch arm of the latch release assembly; and
wherein the latch arm of the latch release assembly is releasable from the at least one latch bar;
a second latch bar located on the cover;
a second latch release assembly which includes an actuator and a latch arm;
wherein the controller is in electrical communication with the actuator of the second latch release assembly;
wherein the at least one signal from the controller activates the actuator of the second latch release assembly to move the latch arm of the second latch release assembly; and
wherein the latch arm of the second latch release assembly is releasable from the second latch bar to release the cover.

12. The truck cover assembly of claim 11 , wherein when the latch arm of the latch release assembly is released from the at least one latch bar, and wherein the latch arm of the latch release assembly pushes against the at least one latch bar to move at least a portion of the truck cover assembly.

13. The truck cover assembly of claim 11 , wherein when the latch arm of the second latch release assembly is released from the second latch bar, and wherein the latch arm of the second latch release assembly pushes against the second latch bar to move at least a portion of the truck cover assembly.

14. The truck cover assembly of claim 11 , further comprising an input device that sends at least one signal to the controller to release the latch arm of the latch release assembly from the at least one latch bar to move at least a portion of the truck cover assembly, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting at least one of a keypad, a phone app, a key fob, a key, a Bluetooth device, a Wifi device, a RFID device, a NFC device, and a computer.

15. The truck cover assembly of claim 11 , further comprising an input device that sends at least one signal to the controller to release the latch arm of the second latch release assembly from the second latch bar to release the truck cover assembly, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting at least one of a keypad, a phone app, a key fob, a key, a Bluetooth device, a Wifi device, a RFID device, a NFC device, and a computer.

Assignees

• Truck Access Group Llc
• Leer Group

Inventors

• Ireland Donald Richard
• Becker Terrill D
• Bacon Bruce Charles
• Hickey Jeffrey Joal
• Bos Robert G

Classifications

• B60J7/198 Primary

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

• B60J7/1607 Primary

  for covering load areas, e.g. rigid panels for pick-up truck beds · CPC title

• E05B83/16

  Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets · CPC title

• B60J7/062

  for utility vehicles (B60J7/065 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05B79/10

  Connections between movable lock parts · CPC title