Deployable aerodynamic bed cover system
AssigneeMagna Exteriors Inc.
InventorsAnthony J. Povinelli, Martin R. Matthews
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An active bed cover system having at least one deployable panel and at least one actuator. The deployable panel extends and retracts based on vehicle requirements and provides reduction in vehicle drag, thereby reducing emissions and improving fuel economy. Additionally, it allows for the system to retract within the tailgate and/or cargo bed liner allowing for access to the bed and improved usability and aesthetics. The active bed cover provides a fully deployable system with object detection, declutching of the actuator to help prevent damage, and communication with the vehicle to determine proper deployment and function.
Claims15
A deployable bed cover assembly for a vehicle, comprising
- at least one deployable panel having a predetermined profile, where said deployable panel selectively extends and retracts between a stowed position and a deployed position, where the deployment of the deployable panel improves aerodynamics;
- at least one actuator, where the actuator is in communication with the vehicle and automatically deploys the deployable panel under predetermined conditions;
- and
- a slide out panel slidably connected to the at least one deployable panel to slide inward and outward between a stowed position relative to the at least one deployable panel and a deployed position extended from the at least one deployable panel to improve aerodynamics.
A deployable bed cover assembly for a vehicle, comprising
- at least one deployable panel, where said deployable panel selectively extends and retracts between a stowed position and a deployed position, where the deployment of the deployable panel improves aerodynamics;
- a slide out panel slidably connected to the at least one deployable panel to slide inward/outward with respect to the at least one deployable panel between a stowed position and an extended deployed position to improve aerodynamics;
- at least one actuator, where the actuator is in communication with the vehicle and automatically deploys the deployable panel and the slide out panel under predetermined conditions and automatically retracts the deployable panel and the slide out panel when predetermined conditions for continued deployment are no longer met;
- and
- a tailgate assembly with a depression formed in an inner panel for receiving the deployable panel such that the deployable panel lies flush with the inner panel of the tailgate assembly when in the stowed position.
A deployable bed cover system for a vehicle, comprising
- at least one deployable panel, where said deployable panel selectively extends and retracts between a stowed position and a deployed position, where the deployment of the deployable panel improves aerodynamics, and where in the stowed position the deployable panel is flush within a tailgate assembly and/or cargo bed liner;
- a slide out panel slidably connected to the at least one deployable panel to selectively slide inward and outward between a stowed position behind or within the at least one deployable panel and a deployed position extended from the at least one deployable panel when in the deployed position to further improve aerodynamics;
- and
- at least one actuator, where the actuator is in communication with the vehicle and automatically deploys the deployable panel under a predetermined vehicle speed range and automatically retracts the deployable panel when said vehicle is under said predetermined vehicle speed range and/or when under higher predetermined loads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.