Telescoping truck bed shell

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9744836-B1
Application number	US-201715478138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 3, 2017
Priority date	Apr 3, 2017
Publication date	Aug 29, 2017
Grant date	Aug 29, 2017

Abstract

A telescoping truck bed shell is disclosed herein. The truck bed shell is capable of being retracted so that the user can have full access to the truck bed and also extended so that the user can have a protected volume at the truck bed in order to store things. The telescoping truck bed has traversable frames and a traversable cover wherein the frames and cover may be traversed between extended and retracted positions depending on whether the truck bed shell is being deployed or stored.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A truck with a collapsible shell, the truck comprising:
the truck having a cab defining a roof and a truck bed defining first and second sidewalls and a tailgate;
the collapsible shell having:
a plurality of first frames stackable adjacent to each other, the plurality of first frames being mounted to the first sidewall, the plurality of first frames being traversable between a stored position wherein the plurality of first frames are stackable adjacent to each other and an extended position wherein the plurality of second frames are disposed end to end with each other;
a plurality of second frames stackable adjacent to each other, the plurality of second frames being mounted to the second sidewall, the plurality of second frames being traversable between a stored position wherein the plurality of second frames are stackable adjacent to each other and an extended position wherein the plurality of second frames are disposed end to end with each other;
a cover that is traversable between a stored position and an extended position wherein in the stored position, the cover is disposed above the roof of the cab and in the extended position, the cover is engaged to the plurality of first and second frames to form an enclosed space at the bed of the truck;
wherein when the cover is in the stored position and the plurality of first and second frames are in the stored position, a full length of the truck bed is usable, and when the cover is in the extended position and the plurality of first and second frames are in the extended position, the shell forms a covered interior volume over the truck bed.

2. The truck of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of panels, each panel being attachable to the first and second frame to provide a barrier.

3. The truck of claim 1 further comprising:
first and second tracks mounted to the first and second sidewalls;
a plurality of first and second sliders mounted to the plurality of first and second frames, the plurality of first and second sliders slidably engaged to the first and second tracks.

4. The truck of claim 1 further comprising a shield disposed over the cover when the cover is in the stored position over the roof of the cab.

5. The truck of claim 4 wherein the shield is traversable between an open position and a use position wherein in the open position, the cover is traversable from the stored position to the extended position and in the stored position, the cover provides an aerodynamic shield for the cover when the cover is in the stored position.

6. The truck of claim 4 wherein the shield is rotatably attached to the roof of the cab.

7. The truck of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first and second frames are panels.

8. The collapsible shell of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of panels, each panel being attachable to the first and second frame to provide a barrier.

9. The collapsible shell of claim 7 further comprising:
first and second tracks mountable to the first and second sidewalls;
a plurality of first and second sliders mounted to the plurality of first and second frames, the plurality of first and second sliders being slidably engaged to the first and second tracks during use.

10. The collapsible shell of claim 7 further comprising a shield attachable to the cab and disposable over the cover when the cover is in the stored position over the roof of the cab during use.

11. The collapsible shell of claim 10 wherein the shield is traversable between an open position and a use position during use wherein in the open position during use, the cover is traversable from the stored position to the extended position and in the stored position during use, the cover provides an aerodynamic shield for the cover when the cover is in the stored position.

12. The collapsible shell of claim 10 wherein the shield is rotatably attached to the roof of the cab during use of the collapsible shell.

13. The collapsible shell of claim 7 wherein the plurality of first and second frames are panels.

14. A collapsible shell attachable to a truck, the collapsible shell comprising:
a plurality of first frames stackable adjacent to each other, the plurality of first frames being mountable to a first sidewall of a bed of the truck, the plurality of first frames being traversable between a stored position wherein the plurality of first frames are stackable adjacent to each other and an extended position wherein the plurality of second frames are disposed end to end with each other;
a plurality of second frames stackable adjacent to each other, the plurality of second frames being mountable to a second sidewall of the bed of the truck, the plurality of second frames being traversable between a stored position wherein the plurality of second frames are stackable adjacent to each other and an extended position wherein the plurality of second frames are disposed end to end with each other;
a cover that is traversable between a stored position and an extended position wherein in the stored position and during use, the cover is disposed above a roof of the cab and in the extended position, the cover is engagable to the plurality of first and second frames to form an enclosed space at the bed of the truck;
wherein when the cover is in the stored position and the plurality of first and second frames are in the stored position during use, a full length of the truck bed is accessible, and when the cover is in the extended position and the plurality of first and second frames are in the extended position during use, the shell forms a covered interior volume over the truck bed.

Assignees

• Singer Nicholas J

Inventors

• Singer Nicholas J

Classifications

• B62D33/04

  Enclosed load compartments {; Frameworks for movable panels, tarpaulins or side curtains (side curtains per se B60J5/065; tarpaulins per se B60J7/00, B60P7/04)} · CPC title

• B60J7/08

  of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position · CPC title

• B60J7/041

  for utility vehicles, e.g. with slidable and foldable rigid panels · CPC title

• B60P3/42

  convertible from one use to a different one (vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media, rail-and-road vehicles B60F) · CPC title

• B60J7/141 Primary

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