Tonneau cover system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9381794-B2
Application number	US-201414529398-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2014
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

A tonneau cover system includes at least one tonneau panel configured to be coupled to a pickup bed. The tonneau panel includes a panel body. The panel body includes a first panel wall and a second panel wall opposite the first panel wall. The tonneau panel defines at least one open slot extending through the first panel wall. The open slot includes a channel and an opening in communication with the channel. The channel has a width that is greater than the width of the opening. The open slot is configured to securely receive a cargo attachment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
a bed including a first bed sidewall, a second bed sidewall opposite the first bed sidewall, a bed base coupled between the first and second bed sidewalls, wherein the first bed sidewall, the second bed sidewall, and the bed base collectively define a bed cavity;
a tonneau panel coupled to the bed between the first and second bed sidewalls so as to cover the bed cavity, wherein the tonneau panel includes a panel body, the panel body includes a first panel wall and a second panel wall opposite the first panel wall, wherein the second panel wall is closer to the bed than the first panel wall, the tonneau panel defines at least one open slot extending through the first panel wall, the panel body defines a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge between the first and second edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, the panel body has a body length extending from the first edge to the second edge, the panel body has a body width extending from the third edge to the fourth edge, the tonneau panel includes a first impermeable seal coupled along an entirety of the first edge of the panel body and a second impermeable seal coupled along an entirety of the second edge of the panel body, the panel body includes a support wall partially defining the at least one open slot, the panel body includes a support column coupled directly to the second panel wall and the support wall, the support column is perpendicular to the first panel wall and the second panel wall, the tonneau panel includes a first beam coupled along an entirety of the third edge of the panel body and a second beam coupled along an entirety of the fourth edge of the panel body, and the tonneau panel includes a third impermeable seal coupled to the first beam and a fourth impermeable seal coupled to the second beam;
wherein the at least one open slot includes a channel and an opening in communication with the channel, the channel has a first width, the opening has a second width, and the first width is greater than the second width, the at least one open slot extends from the third edge to the fourth edge, and the at least one open slot extends along an entirety of the body width; and
a cargo attachment including a main body and at least one coupling pin coupled to the main body, wherein the at least one coupling pin is securely received in the at least one open slot, and the cargo attachment includes a knob movably coupled to at least one coupling pin such that rotation of the knob tightens the at least one coupling pin in the open slot.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the panel body includes a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall opposite the first lateral wall, the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall are perpendicular to the support wall, and the support wall, the first lateral wall, and the second lateral wall collectively define the channel, the vehicle includes a coupling bracket coupled to the panel body, and the coupling bracket is directly coupled to the first bed sidewall.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first width extends from the first lateral wall to the second lateral wall along a lateral direction, the tonneau panel includes a panel bracket coupled to the panel body, and the tonneau panel includes at least one fastener extending through the panel bracket and the coupling bracket.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the panel body further includes a first lip and a second lip, the first lip and the second lip protrudes from the first panel wall, and the second lip is spaced apart from the first lip along the lateral direction.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the second width is defined from the first lip to the second lip along the lateral direction.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the at least one open slot includes at least one access opening extending through the first panel wall, the at least one access opening having a third width that is greater than the second width.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the at least one open slot defines a first slot end and a second slot end opposite the first slot end, the first slot end is disposed at the third edge of the panel body, the second slot end is disposed at the fourth edge of the panel body, and the at least one access opening includes a first access opening and a second access opening, the first access opening is disposed at the first slot end, the second access opening is disposed at the second slot end, the first access opening is disposed at the third edge of the panel body, and the second access opening is disposed at the fourth edge of the panel body.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the third width is equal to or greater than the first width.

9. A tonneau cover system for covering a pickup bed, comprising:
at least one tonneau panel configured to be coupled to the pickup bed, wherein the at least one tonneau panel includes a panel body, the panel body includes a first panel wall and a second panel wall opposite the first panel wall, the panel body includes a first lip and a second lip, the first lip and the second lip protrudes from the first panel wall, and the second lip is spaced apart from the first lip along a lateral direction, and the tonneau panel defines at least one open slot extending through the first panel wall; and
wherein the at least one open slot includes a channel having an opening, and the at least one open slot is configured to securely receive a cargo attachment, the opening has a width defined from the first lip to the second lip along the lateral direction, the at least one open slot defines a first terminus and a second terminus opposite the first terminus, the at least one open slot includes at least one access opening extending through the first panel wall, the at least one access opening is disposed at the first terminus, and a width of the at least one access opening is greater than the width of the opening.

10. The tonneau cover system of claim 9 , wherein the panel body defines a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge between the first and second edge, and fourth edge opposite the third edge, the at least one open slot extends from the third edge to the fourth edge, the panel body has a body length extending from the first edge to the second edge, the panel body has a body width extending from the third edge to the fourth edge, and the at least one open slot extends along an entirety of the body width.

11. The tonneau cover system of claim 9 , wherein the panel body includes a support wall partially defining the at least one open slot, and a support column coupled directly to the second panel wall and support wall.

12. The tonneau cover system of claim 11 , wherein the panel body includes a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall opposite the first lateral wall, the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall are perpendicular to the support wall, and the support wall, the first lateral wall, and the second lateral wall collectively define the channel.

13. The tonneau cover system of claim 12 , wherein the channel has a channel width extending from the first lateral wall to the second lateral wall along the lateral direction.

14. The tonneau cover system of claim 13 , wherein the channel width is greater than the width of the opening.

15. The tonneau cover system of claim 14 , wherein the width of the access opening is equal to or greater than the channel width.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Gomes Gerald J
• Squier Ykema Sarah A

Classifications

• B60P7/02

  Covering of load · CPC title

• B60J7/1607 Primary

  for covering load areas, e.g. rigid panels for pick-up truck beds · CPC title

• B60P7/0815

  Attachment rails or trellis · CPC title

• B60P7/06

  Securing of load (vehicle retainers B60P3/073) · CPC title

• B60P7/0892

  by preventing lateral movement of the load, e.g. using stop blocks · CPC title