Tonneau cover securing mechanism

A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end and having an open position and a closed position, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising:

• a cover;
• a support frame for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame having two opposing side rails, each of which can be secured to one of the respective opposing sidewalls;
• and
• a cover securing apparatus having first and second ends, the cover securing apparatus being attached to the cover and each end of the cover securing apparatus being engageable with one of the respective opposing side rails to secure the cover to the support frame so that each of the respective ends of the cover securing apparatus is engaged with one of the respective opposing side rails;
• wherein the cover securing apparatus includes a channel proximate one of the respective ends, a locking member that is positioned at least partially within the channel and a draw cord secured to the locking member and positioned in line with the locking member;
• wherein the locking member is biased toward a first position;
• wherein the cover securing apparatus is prevented from disengaging from the respective opposing side rail when the locking member is in the first position and the cover securing apparatus is secured to each of the respective opposing side rails;
• wherein the cover securing apparatus can disengage from the respective opposing side rails when the locking member is disengaged from the side rail and moved to a second position.

A tonneau cover securing apparatus for removably securing a tonneau cover apparatus about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end and having an open position and a closed position, the tonneau cover apparatus including a cover and a support frame for attachment to the cargo box;

• the tonneau cover securing apparatus comprising:
• a channel, a locking member which is positioned at least partially within the channel and a draw cord secured to the locking member;
• wherein the tonneau cover securing apparatus is attached to the cover and is engageable to the support frame to secure the cover to the perimeter of the cargo box when the support frame is attached to the cargo box;
• wherein the tonneau cover securing apparatus is prevented from disengaging from the support frame when the locking member is in a first position in which the locking member is engaged with the support frame;
• wherein the locking member is biased toward the first position and the draw cord can draw the locking member away from the first position to a second position;
• wherein the tonneau cover securing apparatus can disengage from the support frame when the locking member is drawn to the second position.

A method of securing a tonneau cover apparatus to a pickup truck, the pickup truck having a cargo box and the cargo box having a perimeter, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end and having an open position and a closed position, the perimeter of the cargo box having a top and the tonneau cover apparatus including a cover and a support frame for attachment to the cargo box;

• the method of securing comprising the steps of:
• providing a tonneau cover securing apparatus including a channel, a locking member which is positioned at least partially within the channel and a draw cord secured to the locking member;
• wherein the tonneau cover securing apparatus is attached to the cover and is securable to the support frame to secure the cover to the top of the perimeter of the cargo box when the support frame is attached to the top of the perimeter of the cargo box;
• and
• securing the tonneau cover securing apparatus to the support frame when the support frame is attached to the cargo box;
• wherein the tonneau cover securing apparatus is prevented from disengaging from the support frame when the locking member is in a first position in which the locking member is engaged with the support frame;
• wherein the locking member is biased toward the first position and the draw cord can draw the locking member away from the first position to a second position;
• wherein the tonneau cover securing apparatus can disengage from the support frame when the locking member is drawn to the second position.