Tonneau cover assembly with a fluid management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021362575-A1
Application number	US-202117397081-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 9, 2021
Priority date	Mar 9, 2018
Publication date	Nov 25, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bed cap configured for attachment to a tailgate of a vehicle, the bed cap includes a channel configured to collect fluid and/or debris, the channel comprising a first opening for evacuating the fluid and/or debris from within the channel.

First claim

1 ) A bed cap configured for attachment to a tailgate of a vehicle, the bed cap comprising:
a channel configured to collect fluid and/or debris, the channel comprising a first opening for evacuating the fluid and/or debris from within the channel.

2 ) The bed cap according to claim 1 , wherein the channel extends along a longitudinal axis, the bed cap comprises an end wall at an end of the longitudinal axis, the first opening is defined through the end wall.

3 ) The bed cap according to claim 2 , wherein the bed cap is configured to cover a top surface of the tailgate, and in vehicle position the channel extends in a cross-car direction.

4 ) The bed cap according to claim 3 , wherein in the vehicle position, the end wall and the first opening are located at a driver side of the vehicle.

5 ) The bed cap according to claim 1 , wherein in vehicle position the channel is arranged on top of a top surface of the tailgate.

6 ) The bed cap according to claim 2 , wherein the bed cap comprises a second end wall at an opposing end of the axis, the second end wall opposes the end wall, the second end wall is free of any openings.

7 ) The bed cap according to claim 2 , wherein the bed cap comprises a second end wall at an opposing end of the axis, the second end wall opposes the end wall, the second end wall comprises a second opening for evacuating the fluid and/or debris from within the channel.

8 ) The bed cap according to claim 3 , wherein the bed cap comprises a seal, wherein a tonneau cover is configured to engage the seal when the tonneau cover is in a closed position.

9 ) The bed cap according to claim 8 , wherein in the vehicle position, the seal is arranged forward of the channel.

10 ) The bed cap according to claim 9 , wherein the seal extends along an axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel.

11 ) The bed cap according to claim 10 , wherein the bed cap comprises a ledge and the seal is located on the ledge.

12 ) The bed cap according to claim 3 , wherein the bed cap comprises one or more fasteners for engaging a top surface of the tailgate.

13 ) The bed cap according to claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a floor, a front wall, a first back wall arranged generally parallel to the front wall, and a second back wall arranged at an angle to the second back wall, the first back wall connecting the first back wall to the floor.

14 ) The bed cap according to claim 13 , wherein the second back is sloped between the first back wall and the floor.

15 ) The bed cap according to claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a U-shaped cross section or a V-shaped cross section.

16 ) The bed cap according to claim 1 , wherein the bed cap comprises a support member between the bed cap and the top surface of the tailgate.

17 ) A bed cap configured for attachment to a tailgate of a vehicle, the bed cap comprising:
a channel configured to collect fluid and/or debris, the channel extends along a longitudinal axis, the bed cap comprises a first end wall at one end of the channel and a second end wall at an opposite end of the channel, wherein one or both of the first end wall and the second end wall comprises an opening for evacuating the fluid and/or debris from within the channel, the bed cap is configured to cover a top surface of the tailgate, and in vehicle position the longitudinal axis extends in a cross-car direction.

18 ) The bed cap according to claim 17 , wherein the bed cap comprises one or more fasteners for engaging a top surface of the tailgate.

19 ) The bed cap according to claim 17 , wherein the bed cap comprises a ledge and a seal located on the ledge, wherein in vehicle position the seal is located forward of the channel.

20 ) The bed cap according to claim 17 , wherein in vehicle position the channel is arranged on top of the top surface of the tailgate.

Assignees

• Tectum Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Facchinello Jerome
• Delaney Daniel J
• Mosingo Robert L
• Gaarder Robert
• Carter Chad
• Germano David

Classifications

• B60J7/0084 Primary

  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

• B60J7/141 Primary

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

• B60J10/90

  specially adapted for non-fixed roofs, e.g. foldable roofs or removable hard-tops · CPC title

• B60P7/04

  by tarpaulins or like flexible members · CPC title