Sliding cargo tonneau cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731654-B2
Application number	US-201514884389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2015
Priority date	Oct 15, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A tonneau cover assembly for a vehicle cargo area includes a tonneau retractor assembly and an actuator disposed to urge the tonneau retractor assembly against a vehicle seatback. A flexible tonneau panel deploys from and retracts into the tonneau retractor assembly. The actuator includes a bracket arrangement including a pair of opposed brackets each slidingly receiving a tonneau retractor pivot rod end therein. The actuator further includes a biasing element configured to urge each bracket towards the vehicle seatback. A support member carries the bracket arrangement. Each bracket slidingly translates over a fixed pivot point. The biasing element is operatively connected at a first end to a bracket and at a second, opposed end to the fixed pivot point to urge the tonneau retractor assembly against a vehicle seatback.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A tonneau cover assembly for a vehicle cargo area, comprising:
a tonneau retractor assembly; and
an actuator disposed to urge the tonneau retractor assembly against a vehicle seatback;
wherein the actuator comprises a bracket arrangement including a pair of opposed brackets each slidingly receiving a tonneau retractor pivot rod end therein.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , including a flexible tonneau panel configured to deploy from and retract into the tonneau retractor assembly.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator further comprises a biasing element configured to urge each bracket towards the vehicle seatback.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein each bracket slidingly translates over a fixed pivot point, and further wherein the biasing element is operatively connected at a first end to a bracket and at a second, opposed end to the fixed pivot point.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the biasing element is a spring.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , further including a support member carrying the bracket arrangement.

7. A vehicle including the assembly of claim 1 .

8. A vehicle, comprising:
a cargo area defined at least by a floor area, side walls, and a vehicle seatback;
a cargo area tonneau cover assembly comprising a tonneau retractor assembly; and
an actuator disposed to urge the tonneau cover assembly against the vehicle seatback;
wherein the actuator comprises a bracket assembly including a pair of brackets each slidingly receiving a tonneau retractor pivot rod end therein and a biasing element configured to urge the bracket assembly towards the vehicle seatback.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , including a flexible tonneau panel configured to deploy from and retract into the tonneau retractor assembly.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , further including a support member carrying the bracket assembly.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein each bracket slidingly translates over a fixed pivot point disposed on the cargo area side wall, and further wherein the biasing element is operatively connected at a first end to a bracket and at a second, opposed end to the fixed pivot point.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the biasing element is a spring.

13. A tonneau cover assembly for a vehicle cargo area, comprising:
a tonneau retractor assembly including a deployable and retractable flexible tonneau panel; and
a spring actuator disposed to urge the one or more tonneau retractor assemblies against a vehicle seatback;
wherein the spring actuator comprises a spring force bracket assembly including a pair of brackets each slidingly receiving a tonneau retractor pivot rod end through a slot therein and a spring configured to urge the bracket assembly towards the vehicle seatback.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , further including a support member carrying the bracket assembly.

15. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein each bracket is disposed to slidingly translate over a fixed pivot point, and further wherein the spring is operatively connected at a first end to a bracket and at a second, opposed end to the fixed pivot point.

16. A vehicle including the assembly of claim 13 .

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Prezecki Ii Leonard Gus

Classifications

• B60R5/047 Primary

  collapsible by rolling-up · CPC title

• B60P7/04

  by tarpaulins or like flexible members · CPC title