# US 10,118,471 B1 · Tonneau cover conceal and divide system

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- Number: US 10,118,471 B1
- Document ID: US10118471B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/660,111
- Filed: 2017-07-26
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-26
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Kendra White; Pattrick Loew
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118471B1

## CPC

- B60J 7/141: {for covering load areas, e.g. for pick-up trucks}
- B60J 7/198: {for locking tonneau covers such as covers for roof storage compartments or for pick-up truck beds}
- B60R 5/045: {collapsible or transformable}
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A vehicle cargo area is disclosed that includes support brackets supported on sides of the vehicle cargo areas. The support brackets are movable between a first position holding a cover above the cargo area and a second position enabling movement of the cover to partition portions of the cargo area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tonneau cover system for a truck bed comprising:
a cover comprising a plurality of separate cover sections secured to each other with a corresponding plurality of hinges; and
a support bracket disposed on each side of the cover and movable between a first position supporting the cover above a truck bed and a second position enabling movement of the cover into the truck bed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tonneau cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of hinges each comprise a U-pin such that adjacent cover sections are foldable onto each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tonneau cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the corresponding plurality of hinges each comprise a flexible member extending between cover sections.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tonneau cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the cover sections includes a lock securing the cover to a static structure of the truck bed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tonneau cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the support bracket comprises a plurality of support brackets corresponding to each of the plurality of cover sections.

### Claim 6

A tonneau cover system for a truck bed comprising:
a cover; and
a support bracket disposed on each side of the cover and movable between a first position supporting the cover above a truck bed and a second position enabling movement of the cover into the truck bed, wherein the support bracket includes a slot enabling movement of the support bracket from an inboard position supporting the cover to an outboard position enabling movement of the cover into the truck bed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The tonneau cover system as recited in claim 6, wherein the support bracket includes a support surface moveable between the inboard position and the outboard position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tonneau cover system as recited in claim 1, wherein the support bracket comprises a rotating rail that is rotatable from the first position within the truck bed providing support for the cover to the second position outside the truck bed enabling movement of the cover into the truck bed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The tonneau cover system as recited in claim 8, wherein the rotating rail is pivotally attached to side walls of the truck bed and includes a spring and a tab holding the rotating rail in one of the first position and the second position.

### Claim 10

A vehicle cargo area comprising:
sidewalls extending vertically upward relative to a bottom surface defining a cargo area between the sidewalls;
a support bracket supported on a top surface of each sidewall movable between a first position and a second position; and
a plurality of separate cover sections secured to each other with a corresponding plurality of hinges supported above the cargo area when the support bracket is in the first position and movable into the cargo area when the support bracket is in the second position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vehicle cargo area as recited in claim 10, wherein the support bracket comprises a plurality of support brackets corresponding to each of the plurality of cover sections.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The vehicle cargo area as recited in claim 10, wherein the support bracket includes a slot enabling movement of the support bracket from an inboard position supporting the cover to an outboard position enabling movement of the cover into the cargo area and a support surface moveable between the inboard position and the outboard position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The vehicle cargo area as recited in claim 10, wherein the support bracket comprises a rotating rail pivotally attached to the sidewalls for rotation from the first position within the cargo area providing support for the cover to the second position outside the truck bed enabling movement of the cover into the cargo area.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The vehicle cargo area as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the cover sections includes a lock securable to a fixed structure defining the cargo area.