Cable tonneau cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016304024-A1
Application number	US-201615099187-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2016
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tonneau cover assembly with a top cover connected to a cable tensioning system that eliminates the need for side rails to both locate and tension the top cover. The cable tension system seals out environmental elements and holds the tonneau cover and fabric management bows of the assembly in place. The assembly includes a front attachment assembly and rear attachment assembly connected to cables, where the front attachment provides a forward mounting location and seals a front bow to the vehicle. The rear attachment assembly holds the top cover in a closed tensioned state until the cover is opened by an operator. The tonneau cover assembly reduces weight and complexity, while eliminating the need for side rails.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tonneau cover assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a tensioning system to tension a top cover by providing tension to the sides of the top cover and to seal the top cover to a cargo bed of a vehicle; a front attachment assembly operably connected at a bulkhead of the vehicle, said front attachment assembly providing a pair of first mounting locations for the tensioning system; a rear attachment assembly operably connected to the vehicle and to the top cover, said rear attachment assembly providing a pair of second mounting locations for the tensioning system; and, a plurality of cover management bows including a flat surface at both ends that sets the location of the cover management bows on the bed rails of the vehicle.

2 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning system includes first and second cables for tensioning the top cover, said first and second cables connected to the first and second mounting locations and to the sides of the top cover.

3 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 2 , wherein the front attachment assembly further includes a pair of front attachment blocks each including a first cable attachment feature with a first aperture for connecting one of the first and second cables.

4 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 3 , further including a bulkhead bow operably connected to the pair of front attachment blocks and operably connected to the top cover.

5 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 2 , wherein the rear attachment assembly further includes a pair of rear attachment blocks each including a second cable attachment feature with a sixth aperture for connecting one of the first and second cables.

6 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 5 , wherein the rear attachment assembly further includes a pair of rear mounting brackets operably connected to the vehicle and providing a place for the rear attachment blocks to engage and provide system tension.

7 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 5 , further including a rear cross member operably connected to the pair of rear attachment blocks.

8 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 5 , further including a release latch mechanism operably coupled to the pair of rear attachment blocks operable to selectively release tension to open the rear attachment assembly with the top cover to a stowed position.

9 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 8 , wherein the release latch mechanism includes two latches operably linked together and releasing one latch causes the other linked latch to also release.

10 . A tonneau cover assembly for a vehicle with a cargo bed, comprising:
a plurality of cables to tension a top cover by providing tension along the sides of the top cover and to seal the top cover to a cargo bed of a vehicle; a front attachment assembly including a pair of front attachment blocks each connected to one of the cables, and operably connected to a bulkhead bow for sealing with a bulkhead of the vehicle without the need to drill attachment points; a rear attachment assembly including a pair of rear attachment blocks each connected to one of the cables, and operably connected to a rear latch mechanism to keep the cover securely closed until selectively operated to an open position; and a plurality of cover management bows operably connected to the top cover and having ends that set the location of the bows on the vehicle without requiring side rails on the tonneau cover assembly.

11 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 10 , further comprising at least two rear mounting brackets operably fastened to the vehicle or incorporated in the vehicle cargo bed, providing a place for the rear attachment blocks to engage and provide system tension.

12 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 10 , wherein the rear latching mechanism further comprises a pair of release latches connected by a connector bar, where release of one latch allows the other latch to release simultaneously.

13 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 10 , wherein the front attachment assembly further comprises a front bulkhead bow operably connected to the pair of front attachment blocks and operably connected to the top cover.

14 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 13 , wherein the front attachment blocks each further comprise:
an attachment arm for fitting onto the vehicle bulkhead, the attachment arm having a second aperture; an opening for receiving a portion of the attachment arm; a first brace with a third aperture, wherein the first brace is sized to fit against the outside of the opening; and, at least one fastener; wherein the at least one fastener extends through the second and third apertures, and the attachment arm is drawn rearward when the at least one fastener is tightened to attach to the vehicle bulkhead and seal the front bulkhead bow to the bulkhead of the cargo bed.

15 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 10 , wherein the front and rear attachment blocks each further include an outward located cable attachment feature with an aperture for connecting one of the first and second cables.

16 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 10 , wherein the ends of the cover management bows have a flat bottom surface that contacts the vehicle's bed rails setting the height and location of the cover management bows.

17 . A stowable/deployable tonneau cover assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a cable tensioning system comprising at least two cables running fore/aft along the vehicle bedside to tension a top cover; a front attachment assembly including a pair of front attachment blocks each connected to one of the cables, and operably connected to a bulkhead bow for sealing with a bulkhead of the vehicle; a rear attachment assembly including a pair of rear attachment blocks each connected to one of the cables at the rear of the vehicle, and operably connected to a rear latch mechanism to keep the cover securely closed until selectively operated to an open position; at least one rear bar operably coupled to the pair of rear attachment blocks and operably connected to the top cover; a plurality of rear mounting brackets operably connected to the vehicle bed or integrated as part of the vehicle bed, said rear mounting brackets providing a location for both ends of the rear attachment assembly engage and provide tonneau cover assembly tension; and, at least one fabric management bow operably connected to the top cover and having ends that set the height and location of the cover management bow on the vehicle bedside; wherein the cable tensioning system allows the tonneau cover assembly to tension the top cover, provides tension along the sides of the top cover to seal the top cover against the bedside of the vehicle, and provides cross car location to assist in locating the top cover and fabric management bows.

18 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 17 , wherein the rear latching mechanism further comprises a pair of release latches connected by a connector bar, where release of one latch allows the other latch to release simultaneously.

19 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 17 , further comprising a bulkhead bow operably connected to the pair of front attachment blocks and operably connected to the top cover.

20 . The tonneau cover assembly of claim 19 , wherein the front attachment blocks each further comprise:
an attachment arm for fitting onto the vehicle bulkhead, the attachment arm having a second aperture; an opening for receiving a portion of the attachment arm; a first brace wit

Assignees

• Bestop Inc

Inventors

• Beltowski Michael
• Stickles George C
• Troeger Rick H
• Essig Richard
• Lutzka Tavis

Classifications

• B60J7/102

  Readily detachable tarpaulins, e.g. for utility vehicles; Frames therefor · CPC title

• B60J7/12

  foldable; Tensioning mechanisms therefor, e.g. struts (B60J7/10, {B60J7/20} take precedence) · CPC title

• B60P7/04 Primary

  by tarpaulins or like flexible members · CPC title

• B60J7/104

  Fastening means for tarpaulins · CPC title

• B60J7/085 Primary

  winding up, e.g. for utility vehicles · CPC title