Modular truck cap apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017519-B2
Application number	US-202217749210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2022
Priority date	May 20, 2022
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus for covering at least a portion of a cargo area of a vehicle, the apparatus includes a frame; one or more side panels attached to the frame; one or more quarter panels attached to the frame; a rear panel; a roof panel supported by the frame; and a lifting mechanism configured to reposition the roof panel relative to the frame and/or the one or more side panels. The lifting mechanism has a handle, a lifter, and a track supporting the lifter. Movement of the handle causes the track to move in a first direction, which causes the lifter to slide in the track in a second direction to raise and/or lower the lifter, which causes the roof panel to be moved or repositioned.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for covering at least a portion of a cargo area of a vehicle, the cargo area comprising a pair of opposing side walls that include a first side wall and a second side wall, the apparatus comprising:
a frame structure comprising a first lower support configured to be attached to the first side wall, a second lower support configured to be attached to the second side wall, a forward first pillar extending upwardly from a forward end of the first lower support, a rear first pillar extending upwardly from a rear end of the first lower support, a forward second pillar extending upwardly from a forward end of the second lower support, a rear second pillar extending upwardly from a rear end of the second lower support, a first upper support connecting the forward first pillar and the rear first pillar, a second upper support connecting the forward second pillar and the rear second pillar;
one or more side panels;
one or more securing mechanisms removably attaching the one or more side panels to the frame so that the one or more side panels are configured to be attached to the frame and detached from the frame to provide an open air truck cap;
a roof panel supported by the frame; and
a lifting mechanism comprising a handle and a lifter, wherein movement of the handle causes the lifter to move the roof panel relative to the frame and/or the one or more side panels, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a rotary part connected to the handle and to a track, movement of the handle causes the lifter to slide in the track to raise and/or lower the lifter, which causes the roof panel to move relative to the frame, and wherein the track is moved in a fore-aft direction and the lifter is moved in an up and down direction.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a support bar that is arranged generally horizontally and below the roof panel, the lifting mechanism is attached to the support bar.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a sloped slot and the lifter comprises a connecting member that engages the sloped slot.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the roof panel is moveable between an upper position and a lower position, wherein in the lower position the roof panel overlaps or overhangs a portion of the one or more side panels.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the roof panel comprises a drain channel that extends in a cross-car direction.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the apparatus comprises a rear panel that is supported on the frame, wherein the rear panel at least partially overlaps the drain channel.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the lifting mechanism comprises an electromechanical assembly to raise and/or lower the roof panel.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises one or more openings and the one or more securing mechanisms extend from a back or B-side of the one or more panels and are configured to at least partially extend into the one or more openings.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises one or more openings and the one or more securing mechanisms comprise one or more flexible or resilient legs that are configured to compress while passing through the one or more openings and then uncompress after the one or more legs pass through the one or more openings.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises one or more openings and the one or more securing mechanisms comprise a first portion and a second portion that mates with the first portion, the first portion includes a pair of opposing grooves that are arranged on a ramp and are configured to mate with corresponding projections that are arranged on a ramp on the second portion.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the first portion has a threaded member that is configured to mate with a corresponding tightening member on the second portion.

12. An apparatus for covering at least a portion of a cargo area of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a frame;
one or more side panels attached to the frame;
one or more quarter panels attached to the frame;
a rear panel;
a roof panel supported by the frame; and
a lifting mechanism configured to move the roof panel relative to the frame and/or the one or more side panels,
wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a handle, a lifter, and a track supporting the lifter,
wherein movement of the handle, causes the track to move in a first direction, which causes the lifter to slide in the track in a second direction to raise and/or lower the lifter, which causes the roof panel to be repositioned.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more side panels, the one or more quarter panels, and/or the roof panel are removable from the frame.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the frame comprises one or more pillar bars and one or more support bars, wherein the one or more pillar bars extend in a generally vertical direction and the one or more support bars extend in a generally horizontal direction.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus comprises one or more securing members for securing the one or more side panels and/or the one or more quarter panels to the frame, wherein the securing mechanism extends from a back side of the one or more side panels and/or the one or more quarter panels, the securing mechanism comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a pair of opposing grooves that are arranged at an angle or on a ramp and are configured to mate with a pair of corresponding projections arranged at an angle or on a ramp on the second portion.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the first portion has a threaded member that is configured to mate with a corresponding tightening member on the second portion.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the apparatus comprises one or more securing members for securing the one or more side panels and/or the one or more quarter panels to the frame, wherein the securing mechanism extends from a back side of the one or more side panels and/or the one or more quarter panels, the securing mechanism comprises one or more flexible or resilient legs configured to engage an opening defined in the frame.

18. A method of moving the roof panel relative to the frame and/or the one or more side panels of the apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the method comprises moving the handle so that the lifter slides in the track and causes the roof panel to move up or down.

Assignees

• Extang Corp

Inventors

• Facchinello Jerome
• Mosingo Robert
• Carter Chad
• Becker Anthony
• Wisely Robert

Classifications

• B60J7/106 Primary

  readily detachable hard-tops (storage compartment for collapsible flexible tops B60J7/20) · CPC title

• B60J7/1614 Primary

  with a vertical lifting movement maintaining the inclination of the roof or panel · CPC title