Tonneau cover, bed rail, and a tonneau cover system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12570130-B2
Application number	US-202318141492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2023
Priority date	Jun 9, 2022
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

A tonneau cover for at least partially covering a cargo area of a vehicle, the cargo area having a pair of opposing side walls, a front wall, and a tailgate, the tonneau cover including: a first panel configured to be arranged adjacent to the front wall; a second panel adjacent to the first panel and rearward of the first panel, the second panel configured to be folded relative to the first panel to move the tonneau cover between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The first panel comprises a first panel section and a second panel section, and the first panel section is arranged at an incline relative to the second panel section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A tonneau cover for at least partially covering a cargo area of a vehicle, the cargo area having a pair of opposing side walls, a front wall, and a tailgate, the tonneau cover comprising:
a first panel configured to be arranged adjacent to the front wall; a second panel adjacent to the first panel and rearward of the first panel, the second panel configured to be folded relative to the first panel to move the tonneau cover between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the first panel comprises a first panel section and a second panel section, wherein the first panel section is arranged at an incline relative to the second panel section; wherein the first panel section includes a first uppermost panel surface and a first lowermost panel surface, and the first uppermost panel surface is spaced apart from the first lowermost panel surface along a vertical direction; wherein the second panel section includes a second uppermost panel surface and a second lowermost panel surface, and the second uppermost panel surface is spaced apart from the second lowermost panel surface along the vertical direction; wherein the first uppermost panel surface of the first panel section has an uppermost portion; wherein the first uppermost panel surface of the first panel section has a lowermost portion; wherein the first panel section has a first maximum height at the uppermost portion of the first uppermost panel surface; wherein the first panel section has a second maximum height at the lowermost portion of the first uppermost panel surface; wherein each of the first maximum height and the second maximum height are defined from the second uppermost panel surface of the second panel section to the first uppermost panel surface of the first panel section along the vertical direction; wherein the first maximum height of the first panel section is greater than the second maximum height of the first panel section; and wherein the lowermost portion of the first uppermost panel surface is closer to the second panel section than the uppermost portion of the first uppermost panel surface.

2 . The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the uppermost portion of the first uppermost panel surface is closer to the front wall than the lowermost portion of the first uppermost panel surface when the tonneau cover is installed in the vehicle.

3 . The tonneau cover according to claim 2 , wherein the incline comprises an angle is between about 110 degrees and 145 degrees.

4 . The tonneau cover according to claim 3 , wherein the first panel section and the second panel section are formed as a single, integral structure.

5 . The tonneau cover according to claim 4 , wherein the first panel section comprises a forward end comprising a seal that is configured to abut the front wall.

6 . The tonneau cover according to claim 5 , wherein the seal comprises a first seal section, a second seal section, and a third seal section, wherein one or more of the first seal section, the second seal section, and the third seal section contact the front wall, depending on a distance defined between the first panel section and the front wall.

7 . A tonneau cover for at least partially covering a cargo area of a vehicle, the cargo area having a pair of opposing side walls, a front wall, and a tailgate, the tonneau cover comprising:
a first panel configured to be arranged adjacent to the front wall; a second panel adjacent to the first panel and rearward of the first panel, the second panel configured to be folded relative to the first panel to move the tonneau cover between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the first panel comprises a first panel section and a second panel section, wherein the first panel section is arranged at an incline relative to the second panel section; wherein the first panel section comprises a forward end comprising a seal that is configured to abut the front wall; and wherein the seal comprises a seal block attached to the seal, the seal block being made from a different material than the seal.

8 . The tonneau cover according to claim 7 , wherein the seal includes a cut out portion and the seal block is attached to the seal in the cut out portion.

9 . The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises a bed rail attached to one or both of the side walls, the bed rail comprises a latch catch and the tonneau cover comprises a latch assembly that engages the latch catch to restrict or prevent fore-aft movement of the tonneau cover.

10 . The tonneau cover according to claim 9 , wherein the latch catch comprises a base part and one or more members extending from the base part.

11 . The tonneau cover according to claim 10 , wherein the bed rail comprises a groove and the base part is received into the groove.

12 . A tonneau cover for at least partially covering a cargo area of a vehicle, the cargo area having a pair of opposing side walls, a front wall, and a tailgate, the tonneau cover comprising:
a first panel configured to be arranged adjacent to the front wall; a second panel adjacent to the first panel and rearward of the first panel, the second panel configured to be folded relative to the first panel to move the tonneau cover between an open configuration and a closed configuration; wherein the first panel comprises a first panel section and a second panel section, wherein the first panel section is arranged at an incline relative to the second panel section; wherein the tonneau cover comprises a bed rail attached to one or both of the side walls, the bed rail comprises a latch catch and the tonneau cover comprises a latch assembly that engages the latch catch to restrict or prevent fore-aft movement of the tonneau cover; wherein the latch catch comprises a base part; and wherein the latch catch comprises two members extending from the base part, each of the two members extend in an inwardly and downwardly direction in vehicle position.

13 . The tonneau cover according to claim 9 , wherein the latch assembly comprises a latch and a track, the track is secured to a B-side of the first panel or the second panel, and wherein the latch assembly comprises an unlatching tab to move the latch within the track to engage and disengage the latch catch, wherein the track extends in a cross car direction in vehicle position.

14 . The tonneau cover according to claim 1 , comprising a drain for evacuating fluid and/or debris from a drain channel of a bed rail upon which the tonneau cover is configured to be supported on, wherein the drain comprises a first section configuration to engage a tube having a first diameter and a second section that is configured to engage a tube having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter.

15 . The tonneau cover according to claim 14 , comprising an end cap for attaching to an end of the bed rail, the end cap comprising a closed end wall.

16 . The tonneau cover according to claim 14 , comprising an end cap for attaching to an end of the bed rail, the end cap comprising an end wall comprising an opening for evacuating fluid and/or debris from the drain channel.

17 . The tonneau cover according to claim 11 , wherein the tonneau cover comprises one or more holding latches, and the one or more holding latches are configured to engage the groove that the base part of the latch catch engages.

18 . The tonneau cover according to claim 17 , wherein the one or more holding latches are disengaged from the gro

Assignees

• Extang Corp

Inventors

• Talbert Robert Paul
• Livingston Nolin Miller
• Michaud David Brian

Classifications

• B60J7/0084

  Water draining for non-fixed roofs or roof panels (for fixed roofs not integral with roof structure B60R13/06, for fixed roofs integral with roof structure B62D25/07) · CPC title

• B60J7/198

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

• B60J7/141 Primary

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