Connector with seal
AssigneeTectum Holdings, Inc.
InventorJerome Facchinello
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector that includes a first U-shaped channel and a second U-shaped channel. The first U-shaped channel is defined by a first upper wall, a first lower wall, and a first end wall that connects the first upper wall and the first lower wall. The first U-shaped channel is adapted to receive a first enclosure panel. The second U-shaped channel is defined by a second upper wall, a second lower wall, and a second end wall that connects the second upper wall and the second lower wall. The second U-shaped channel is adapted to receive a second enclosure panel. The first U-shaped channel includes a first seal extending between the first upper wall and the first end wall. The first seal is compressed by the first enclosure panel when the first enclosure panel is received in the first U-shaped channel.
Claims20
1) A connector comprising:
- a first U-shaped channel defined by a first upper wall, a first lower wall, and a first end wall that connects the first upper wall and the first lower wall, the first U-shaped channel is adapted to receive a first enclosure panel of a tonneau cover, the tonneau cover adapted to cover at least a portion of a cargo bed of a pickup truck;
- a second U-shaped channel defined by a second upper wall, a second lower wall, and a second end wall that connects the second upper wall and the second lower wall, the second U-shaped channel is adapted to receive a second enclosure panel of the tonneau cover,
- wherein the first U-shaped channel comprises a first seal extending between the first upper wall and the first end wall;
- and
- wherein the first seal is compressed by an edge of the first enclosure panel when the first enclosure panel is received in the first U-shaped channel.
14) A tonneau cover for a pickup truck, the tonneau cover comprising:
- a first enclosure panel;
- a second enclosure panel;
- and
- a connector, the connector comprising:
- i) a first U-shaped channel, the first U-shaped channel defined by a first upper wall, a first lower wall, and a first end wall that connects the first upper wall and the first lower wall, the first U-shaped channel is adapted to receive the first enclosure panel;
- ii) a second U-shaped channel, the second U-shaped channel defined by a second upper wall, a second lower wall, and a second end wall that connects the second upper wall and the second lower wall, the second U-shaped channel is adapted to receive the second enclosure panel;
- wherein the first U-shaped channel comprises a first upper seal and a first lower seal, the first upper seal extends between the first upper wall and the first end wall, and the first lower seal extends between the first lower wall and the first end wall;
- wherein the first upper seal and the first lower seal are compressed by the first enclosure panel when the first enclosure panel is received in the first U-shaped channel.
- wherein the second U-shaped channel comprises a second upper seal and a second lower seal, the second upper seal extends between the second upper wall and the second end wall, and the second lower seal extends between the second lower wall and the second end wall;
- and
- wherein the second upper seal and the second lower seal are compressed by the second enclosure panel when the second enclosure panel is received in the second U-shaped channel.
19) An assembly comprising:
- a first enclosure panel;
- a second enclosure panel;
- and
- a connector, the connector comprising:
- i) a first U-shaped channel, the first U-shaped channel defined by a first upper wall, a first lower wall, and a first end wall that connects the first upper wall and the first lower wall, the first U-shaped channel is adapted to receive the first enclosure panel;
- ii) a second U-shaped channel, the second U-shaped channel defined by a second upper wall, a second lower wall, and a second end wall that connects the second upper wall and the second lower wall, the second U-shaped channel is adapted to receive the second enclosure panel;
- wherein the first U-shaped channel comprises a first upper seal and a first lower seal, the first upper seal extends between the first upper wall and the first end wall, and the first lower seal extends between the first lower wall and the first end wall;
- wherein the first upper seal and the first lower seal are compressed by the first enclosure panel when the first enclosure panel is received in the first U-shaped channel.
- wherein the second U-shaped channel comprises a second upper seal and a second lower seal, the second upper seal extends between the second upper wall and the second end wall, and the second lower seal extends between the second lower wall and the second end wall;
- and
- wherein the second upper seal and the second lower seal are compressed by the second enclosure panel when the second enclosure panel is received in the second U-shaped channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.