US 2018/0009298 A1 · TONNEAU COVER ASSEMBLY AND CLAMP WITH GRASPING TETHER

Abstract

A tonneau cover system can include a cover sized and shaped to cover the truck cargo box and a spring clamp designed to secure the cover to the truck cargo box. The spring clamp can include a rod connected to the cover. The rod can have a rod axis. A clamp body can be rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod. The clamp body can include a pair of oppositely disposed catches spaced apart from the rod axis. The catches can extend in a catch length direction intersecting the rod axis at a first angle. A grasping tether can be attached to the clamp body for manually sliding the clamp body along the rod in a direction away from the cover. Due to the flexible nature of the grasping tether, potential interference of the clamp with cargo in the cargo box can be significantly reduced.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A tonneau cover assembly for a truck cargo box, the tonneau cover assembly comprising:

a cover sized and shaped to cover the truck cargo box;
and
a clamp designed to secure the cover to the truck cargo box, the clamp comprising:
a rod connected to the cover and having a rod axis;
a clamp body rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod, the clamp body comprising a catch spaced apart from the rod axis in a first direction;
and
a grasping tether attached to the clamp body for manually sliding the clamp body along the rod in a direction away from the cover.

4 more elements

A tonneau cover assembly for a truck cargo box comprising a side wall, the tonneau cover assembly comprising:

a cover sized and shaped to cover the truck cargo box;
and
a clamp designed to secure the cover to the side wall of the truck cargo box, the clamp comprising:
a rod having a first end pivotally connected to the cover and a distal end apart from the cover, the rod having a rod axis;
a clamp body rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod, the clamp body comprising a first catch spaced apart from the rod axis in a first direction and extending along a first catch axis, and a second catch spaced apart from the rod axis in a second direction generally opposite the first direction and extending along a second catch axis parallel to the first catch axis;
a spring biasing the clamp body along the rod axis in a direction toward the cover;
and
a tether attached to the clamp body for sliding the clamp body along the rod in a direction away from the cover, the tether comprising a strap having a greatest cross-sectional dimension, wherein the direction of the greatest cross-sectional dimension extends parallel to the first catch axis and the second catch axis.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tonneau cover assembly and clamp with grasping tether

Life of this patent

Tonneau cover assembly and clamp with grasping tether

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16