US 11,634,014 B2 · Retractable truck bed cover having slat array with flexible joiner members and shielded seams

Abstract

A retractable truck bed cover having an array of parallel aluminum slats joined together by connective hinges including leading and trailing edge configuration for improving the security of the cover by covering and concealing the seam between adjacent slats while improving the connective hinge's resistance to the effects of aging and/or exposure to temperature fluctuations. The truck bed cover connective hinge slat is designed to be in an array of discrete slats, which are joined to one another by means of joiner members secured at each end to slat end caps. The distal ends of the joiner members are attached to slat end caps at the distal ends of the slats, thereby preventing the joiner members from shrinking in relationship to the slats due to aging and I or exposure to temperature fluctuations.

A retractable truck bed cover configured for use with a truck bed of a vehicle, the retractable truck bed cover comprising:

a pair of guide rails configured to secure to side walls of the truck bed of the vehicle;
a plurality of slats configured to extend between and be positioned at least partially within the pair of guide rails;
and
a plurality of flexible joiner members, each of the plurality of flexible joiner members configured to connect adjacent ones of the plurality of slats, each of the plurality of flexible joiner members comprising a length and a cross-section extending along the length, the cross-section comprising a first connector section, a second connector section, and a hinge section positioned between and connecting the first and second connector sections, the hinge section comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and a notch positioned along the second surface, wherein the first surface is planar and wherein the notch extends from the second surface to an interior portion of the hinge section between the first and second surfaces, the notch defining a narrowing portion of the hinge section;
wherein the plurality of slats comprises at least a first slat and a second slat, each of the first and second slats comprising a length and a cross-section extending along the length, the cross-section comprising:
a slat surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge;
a first receptor channel extending downwardly from the slat surface and positioned proximate the leading edge, the first receptor channel comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and an opening on the first side, the first side being closer to the leading edge than the second side;
and
a second receptor channel extending downwardly from the slat surface and positioned proximate the trailing edge, the second receptor channel comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and an opening on the second side, the second side being closer to the trailing edge than the first side, wherein the first side of the second receptor channel faces toward the second side of the first receptor channel;
wherein, when the first and second slats are connected to one another by one of the flexible joiner members:
the first connector section is positioned within the second receptor channel of the first slat and the second connector section is positioned within the first receptor channel of the second slat;
and
a first portion of the hinge section extends through the opening on the second side of the second receptor channel of the first slat and a second portion of the hinge section extends through the opening on the first side of the first receptor channel of the second slat;
and
wherein, when the first and second slats are in a flat position, the second receptor channel of the first slat is spaced from the first receptor channel of the second slat by a gap, wherein the gap and the narrowing portion of the hinge section allow the first and second slats to move between the flat position and an angled position.

12 more elements

Facts

Application

17/065,415Filed 7 Oct 2020 · continuation

Priority

4 Aug 2014

Published

US 2021/0016642 A121 Jan 2021

Granted

25 Apr 2023

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60J 7/041
With rigid plate-like element or elements , e.g. open roofs with harmonica-type folding rigid panels: for utility vehicles, e.g. with slidable and…
B60J 7/085
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…:…
B60J 7/196
For rigid panels: for locking or interconnecting rigid roof panels to each other
B60J 10/277
Having projections, grooves or channels in the longitudinal direction: for facilitating specific deformation of sealing parts, e.g. for ensuring…

Family

Application14/450,616Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Aug 2014

Application15/213,180Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Jul 2016

US 9,399,391 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Jul 2016

Application16/144,906Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Sep 2018

US 10,137,766 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Nov 2018

US 2021/0016642 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Jan 2021

US 10,800,231 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2016/0031305 A1Published application

US 2017/0008382 A1Published application

US 2019/0105970 A1Published application

US 11,634,014 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Retractable truck bed cover having slat array with flexible joiner members and shielded seams

Life of this patent

Retractable truck bed cover having slat array with flexible joiner members and shielded seams

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20