Modular truck cap apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12496885-B2
Application number	US-202418673377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2024
Priority date	May 20, 2022
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

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 comprises a pair of opposing side walls that include a first side wall and a second side wall, the apparatus comprising:
a frame structure comprising: i. a first lower support configured to be attached to the first side wall, ii. a second lower support configured to be attached to the second side wall, iii. a forward first pillar extending upwardly from a forward end of the first lower support, iv. a rear first pillar extending upwardly from a rear end of the first lower support, v. a forward second pillar extending upwardly from a forward end of the second lower support, vi. a rear second pillar extending upwardly from a rear end of the second lower support, vii. a first upper support connecting the forward first pillar and the rear first pillar, viii. a second upper support connecting the forward second pillar and the rear second pillar; one or more panels comprising one or more fasteners extending from a back or B-side of the one or more panels; wherein the frame structure comprises one or more openings and the one or more fasteners are configured to extend into and through the one or more openings and into the frame structure to attach the one or more panels to the frame structure; and wherein the one or more fasteners comprise 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.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a threaded member that is configured to mate with a corresponding tightening member on the second portion.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise one or more flexible or resilient legs configured to engage and at least partially extend through the one or more openings.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more fasteners 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.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more fasteners are disengaged from the frame structure from inside the frame structure.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more panels comprise a roof panel comprising a drain channel.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the drain channel extends in a cross-car direction.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more panels comprise a rear panel, wherein the rear panel at least partially overlaps or overhangs the drain channel after the rear panel is attached.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the drain channel is configured to direct fluid and/or debris in the cross-car direction and then downwardly along a path or region between or along a side panel and the rear panel.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more panels comprise a first panel having a lip and a second panel, wherein the lip of the first panel is covered by the second panel after the first panel and the second panel are attached to the frame structure.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame structure comprises a front lower support having a downwardly turned flange that is configured to be attached to a front wall of the cargo area, wherein the front lower support extends between and connects the first lower support and the second lower support.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame structure 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.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame structure 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, and wherein the frame structure and/or one or more members of the frame structure are made from aluminum or steel.

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