Folding tonneau cover apparatus

A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the top 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 support frame assembly for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame assembly including two side rails and at least one catch;
• and
• a cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels, wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first and second panels, the first and second panels being secured to one another by a first hinge that enables the first and second panels to pivot with respect to one another;
• wherein the first panel includes at least one hook that is engageable with the at least one catch when the support frame assembly is attached to the cargo box, and which limits movement of the first panel when the at least one hook is engaged with the at least one catch;
• and
• wherein the first panel also includes at least one locking member that is engageable with the support frame assembly when the support frame assembly is attached to the cargo box, and which limits movement of the first panel when the locking member is in a first position and the support frame assembly is secured to the cargo box, and wherein the locking member is disengaged from the support frame assembly when the locking member is in a second position such that the first rigid panel can pivot with respect to the second rigid panel.

A method of using a tonneau cover apparatus, the tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the top 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 method of using a tonneau cover apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing a support frame assembly for attachment to the cargo box;
• the support frame including two side rails for attachment to each of the respective opposing sidewall;
• providing a cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels;
• wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first and second panels;
• the first and second panels being interconnected to one another in a manner that enables the respective panels to pivot with respect to one another;
• wherein the first panel includes a channel and a locking member that can slide within the channel to engage one of the two opposing side rails when the respective side rail is secured to one of the respective sidewalls;
• and wherein the first panel also includes a hook that can slide under a catch secured to one of the two opposing side rails when the respective side rail is secured to the respective sidewall in order to engage the first panel with the support frame and collaborate with the locking member to secure the first panel to the support frame when the support frame is secured to the cargo box;
• attaching the support frame assembly to the cargo box;
• and
• securing the cover assembly to the support frame assembly.