Multi-hinge tonneau cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11919378-B2
Application number	US-202217743732-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2022
Priority date	May 21, 2019
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

A tonneau cover comprising: (a) a plurality of panels; (b) one or more hinges between each panel of the plurality of panels so that the plurality of panels are rotatably connected together, wherein some or all of the one or more hinges include: (i) a plurality of expansion links that are movably interconnected together, some of the plurality of expansion links including: (1) one or more expansion projections; (2) one or more pockets that receive all or a portion of the one or more expansion projections from an adjacent one of the plurality of expansion links; and (3) one or more expansion stops that restricts movement of the one or more expansion projections from the adjacent one of plurality of the expansion links that extend within the one or more pockets; wherein the one or more hinges rotate so that the one or more hinges form of angle of about 90 degrees or more and about 225 degrees or less.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tonneau cover comprising:
(a) a header panel;
(b) a track located on the header panel; and
(c) a slider movable along the track that includes a connection arm having a connection recess therein adapted to secure the tonneau cover to a vehicle, wherein the connection arm extends external to the track so that the connection recess is adapted to receive a tether configured to secure the tonneau cover to the vehicle.

2. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , wherein the slider includes a track arm located within the track.

3. The tonneau cover of claim 2 , wherein the track includes an upper track wall and a lower track wall, and the track arm extends between the upper track wall and the lower track wall.

4. The tonneau cover of claim 3 , wherein the connection arm projects away from the track arm between the upper track wall and the lower track wall.

5. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , wherein the slider is adapted to secure additional panels of the tonneau cover connected to the header panel to the vehicle.

6. The tonneau cover of claim 5 , wherein the header panel is adapted to be located proximate to a cab of the vehicle and at least partially disposed along a cargo box of the vehicle.

7. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , wherein the track extends along a terminal edge of the header panel.

8. The tonneau cover of claim 7 , wherein the track extends along a width of the header panel.

9. The tonneau cover of claim 2 , wherein the track arm includes a track connector that engages the track to prevent removal of the slider from the track.

10. The tonneau cover of claim 9 , wherein the track connector is triangular in shape to engage a lip of the track and at least partially prevent movement of the slider.

11. The tonneau cover of claim 3 , wherein the track arm includes a track recess complimentary in shape to the upper track wall, the lower track wall, or both.

12. The tonneau cover of claim 11 , wherein the track recess is located between the connection arm and the track arm.

13. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , wherein the connection arm is adapted to secure the tonneau cover to the vehicle when the tonneau cover is in a folded or open position.

14. The tonneau cover of claim 3 , wherein the track arm is hollow.

15. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , wherein the tonneau cover includes a plurality of sliders located within the track.

16. The tonneau cover of claim 5 , wherein a first slider is located within a first end region of the track and a second slider is located within a second end region of the track.

17. A tonneau cover comprising:
(a) a panel; and
(b) a slider movably secured to the panel, wherein the slider includes a connection arm projecting externally away from the panel that is adapted to receive a tether that is configured to secure the tonneau cover to a vehicle when the tonneau cover is in a folded or open position.

18. The tonneau cover of claim 17 , wherein the connection arm includes a connection recess adapted to secure the tether to the connection arm.

19. The tonneau cover of claim 18 , wherein the panel is adapted to be located adjacent to a cab of the vehicle and at least partially rest along a cargo box of the vehicle.

20. The tonneau cover of claim 19 , wherein the connection arm forms a frame around the connection recess.

Assignees

• Extang Corp

Inventors

• Facchinello Jerome
• Germano David

Classifications

• B60J7/141 Primary

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

• B60J7/1607

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

• B60J7/198

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

• B60J7/04

  with rigid plate-like element or elements {, e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels (B60J7/061 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60J7/196

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