# US 12,214,713 B2 · Tonneau cover fixing and assembly system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,713 B2 - Document ID: US12214713B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/770,608 - Filed: 2021-06-17 - Published: 2024-05-02 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-17 - Assignees: Keko AcessóRios S/A - Applicants: Keko AcessóRios S/A - Inventors: Juliano Scheer Mantovani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214713B2 ## CPC - B60J 7/141: {for covering load areas, e.g. for pick-up trucks} - B60P 7/04: by tarpaulins or like flexible members - B60J 7/198: {for locking tonneau covers such as covers for roof storage compartments or for pick-up truck beds} - 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) - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) ## Abstract The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, object of the present invention, comprises a tonneau cover fixing and assembly system comprising a front profile (10) provided with a specific format that ensures greater ease in fixing and removing the tarp (40), such as to add a double sealing system and side profiles (20) having a specific shape, improving the sealing, operation and attachment system to the vehicle bed. The side profiles (20) also have a geometry that provides a system for fitting the tarp through a click, resulting in greater ease of use for the tarp and making the opening and closing operation very quick and practical. These profiles (20) also receive the C-clamps (70) that allow to fasten the tarp (40) structure to the bed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, comprising: a front profile (10) equipped with a first bas-relief (11) having a groove (111) that allows the sliding fit of a plastic front profile (41) fixed to a tarp (40), a lower projection (12) provided with a second groove (121) for fastening by sliding fit—of a front seal rubber (50), a second bas-relief (13) for fit fastening a seal rubber (131) sealing between the tonneau and a vehicle bed, a third bas-relief (14) equipped with flaps (141) allowing fixing structures (60) equipped with elastic cord (63) for fixing the tarp (40) when rolled up and at the ends of the front profile (10), along an upper portion of profile (10), holes (15) are arranged that allow a fitting of structural steel sections (30) through a click, said structure (60) which is provided with a first projection (61) that allows the sliding fit along the third bas-relief (14) of the front profile (10), a pair of flaps (62) for fixing the elastic cord-(63) in; a central portion of the front profile side profiles (20) are provided with a fourth bas-relief (21) that has a third groove (211) for fixing side plastic profile (42) of the tarp (40), said side plastic profile (42) having a second projection (421) that allows the fitting together with the third groove (211) by pressure, in a lower portion of the side profiles (20) is arranged a fifth bas-relief (22) for fastening by fitting the sealing rubber (221), in a rear portion of the side profiles (20) a fourth groove (23) is arranged allowing the fixing of locking structures (70), from the tonneau cover to the vehicle bed and at ends of the side profiles (20), next to the upper portion, holes (24) are arranged for fitting with the structural steel sections (30) through click, the locking structure (70) which is provided with a first piece (71) having a second flap (711) that fits with the fourth groove (23) and a third projection (712) that fits with the second piece (72), the third projection (712) which has a first housing (713) for positioning a first nut when the locking structure (70) is screwed from below, and the second piece (72) has a spacing (721) for fitting the third projection (712) and a third flap (722) that allows locking with the vehicle bed, the third flap (722) having in a lower portion a second housing (723) for positioning a second nut when the locking structure (70) is screwed from above; the structural steel sections (30), connecting the front profile (10) and the side profiles (20), have a fourth projection (31) that works as a snap-in guide and locking rod (311) equipped with a tooth that snaps together the hole (24) of the side profiles (20) through a click, a fifth projection (32) having a locking rod (321) provided with guides and a tooth that fits with a respective hole from the the hole (15) of the front profile (10) through one-click; and the tarp (40) is provided on its front portion with the plastic profile (41) and on its side portions with the side plastic profile (42), and the fixing of the plastic profile (41) and the second plastic profile (42) with the tarp (40) occurs by sewing a hem (43), the tarp (40) receives the provision of crossbars (80) supporting the tarp, the crossbars (80) which are provided with tips (81) sewn between a side face of the tarp (40) and the side plastic profile (42); on a rear portion of the tonneau cover a rear profile (90) is arranged provided with second structural steel sections (300) of specific format that allows the connection with the tips (201) of the side profiles (20), said second structural steel sections (300), which are provided with a locking structure (301), said second structural steel sections (300) that are connected to the rear profile (90) and the tips (201) connected to the side profiles (20), a pair of actuators (91) are positioned in pairs in a central portion of the rear profile (90), so that a total release of the system may occur by activating only one pair of the pair of actuators (91) or by activating any pair of actuators interconnected through a set of four rods (92A), (92B), (92C) and (92D) being two rods connected to the pins (93) and the other two rods connected between the pair of actuators (91), which allows a transmission of movement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1, wherein structure (60) comprises: a second structure (65) provided with a side flap (64) for fixing the second structure (65) fixed to the opposite end of the elastic cord (63), the second structure (65) having a pair of flaps (651) that allow the elastic cord fixing and a tab (652) for positioning along the side flap (64). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 2, wherein—the structure (60) fixing the tarp (40) holding when rolled up, fitting the tab (652) of the structure (60) in a tab (34) of the structural steel sections (30). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1, wherein the side profiles (20) allow fixing of the locking structures (70) of the tonneau cover with the fourth groove (23) in a sliding manner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1, wherein the first piece (71) and the second piece (72) are provided with an upper hole (73) that allows fixing and a junction between the parts using a bolt and nut above or below. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 5, wherein, when up tightening, the nut is placed in the second housing (723) located on the underside of the second piece (72). ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 5, wherein, when down tightening, the nut is placed inside the first housing (713) which is located on a front part of the first piece (71). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1, wherein the structural steel sections (30) has a fifth groove (33) with a fixing portion of the front profile (10) that aligns with the groove (111) in order to allow the sliding movement of the plastic profile (41) of the tarp (40), allowing removal of the tarp (40), when rolled up, with no need to disassemble the entire system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1, wherein the tips (81) have a fourth flap (811) that follows a shape of the side profiles (20) so that an end of the fourth flap (811) is hemmed with the tarp (40). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1, wherein the actuators (91) are modular. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1, wherein slots (36) are arranged in a lower portion of the structural steel sections (30) for positioning a piece (37) for locking the tarp (40), the piece (37) which is provided with holes (371) allowing fixing and positioning of the slots (36). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1, wherein a sixth bas-relief (35) is arranged in a lower portion of the structural steel sections (30).