Flexible tonneau cover assembly

A flexible tonneau cover assembly, comprising:

• a first side rail positioned on a first side wall of a cargo box of a vehicle, the first side rail comprising:
• a first sliding element slidably received in the first side rail, the first sliding element having a projection extending laterally inward from the first side rail;
• a first spring block inserted within the first side rail;
• and
• a first spring located between the first sliding element and the first spring block in the first side rail;
• a second side rail positioned on a second side wall of the cargo box of the vehicle, the second slide rail comprising;
• a second sliding element slidably received in the second side rail, the second sliding element having a laterally inward facing latch receptacle;
• a second spring block inserted within the second side rail;
• and
• a second spring located between the second sliding element and the second spring block in the side rail;
• a front rail, comprising:
• a first end having an opening for receiving the projection of the first sliding element;
• and
• a second end having a latch receivable by the latch receptacle of the second sliding element, the latch further comprising:
• a latch base disposed in the front rail;
• a sloped engagement surface for engaging the latch receptacle of the second element;
• and
• a spring biasing the latch base and sloped engagement surface laterally outward from the front rail;
• and
• a tonneau cover attached to the front rail and extendable to cover the cargo box of the vehicle.

A method of removing a flexible tonneau cover from a vehicle, the vehicle having a flexible tonneau cover assembly comprising a first side rail positioned on a first side wall of a cargo box of the vehicle having a first element received in the first side rail, the first element having a projection extending laterally inward from the first side rail, a second side rail positioned on a second side wall of a cargo box of the vehicle, the second slide rail including a second element received in the second side rail, the second element having a laterally inward facing latch receptacle, a front rail including a first end having an opening for receiving the projection of the first sliding element and a second end having a latch receivable by the latch receptacle of the second sliding element, and the tonneau cover attached to the front rail and extendable to cover the cargo box of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• rolling up the flexible tonneau cover to the front rail;
• disengaging the latch from the laterally inward facing latch receptacle;
• lifting the second end of the front rail from the second element;
• and
• removing the first end of the front rail from the projection of the first element.