# US 2019/0168590 A1 · Truck bed cover and method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168590 A1 - Document ID: US20190168590A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/976,293 - Filed: 2018-05-10 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Inventors: Thomas E. O'Reilly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168590A1 ## CPC - B60J 7/141: {for covering load areas, e.g. for pick-up trucks} - B60J 7/198: {for locking tonneau covers such as covers for roof storage compartments or for pick-up truck beds} - B60P 3/42: convertible from one use to a different one (vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media, rail-and-road vehicles B60F) - 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 A truck bed cover for covering a bed of a truck comprises a top panel; two side panels, each coupled to the top with side hinges at opposite sides of the top, respectively, the two side panels transitionable from parallel with the top to perpendicular with the top; a front panel and a rear panel, each coupled to the top with a front hinge at opposite sides of the top, respectively, and between the two side panels; a bottom lock member on the bottom of each of the two side panels for attaching the two side panel to opposite walls of the truck that define the bed; a top lock member at the top of each of the two sides, each top lock member engages with the side hinges, respectively, to prevent each of the sides from extending past perpendicular with the top when swiveled away from parallel with the top. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A truck bed cover for covering a bed of a truck, said truck bed cover comprising: a top panel; two side panels, each coupled to the top with side hinges at opposite sides of the top, respectively, said two side panels transitionable from parallel with the top to perpendicular with the top; a front panel and a rear panel, each coupled to the top with a front hinge and a rear hinge at opposite sides of the top, respectively, and between the two side panels; a bottom lock member on the bottom of each of the two side panels for attaching the two side panels to opposite walls of the truck that define the bed, respectively; a top lock member at the top of each of the two sides, each top lock member engages with the side hinges, respectively, to prevent each of the sides from extending past perpendicular with the top when the two sides are swiveled away from parallel with the top. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A truck bed cover according to claim 1, further comprising vehicle lock members on each of the opposite walls of the truck, wherein the vehicle lock members engage the bottom lock members when the two side panels are in a vertical orientation, and engage the top lock member when the two side panel are in a horizontal orientation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A truck bed cover according to claim 1, wherein in a first configuration the two side panels, the front panel, and the rear panel are in a horizontal orientation and in a second configuration the two side panels, the front panel and the rear panel are in a vertical orientation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A truck bed cover according to claim 1, wherein an axis of rotation of the rear hinge is perpendicular to and either above or below a further axis of rotation of the side hinges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A truck bed cover according to claim 1, where at least one of the top panel, the two side panels, the front panel, and the rear panel are comprised of wood. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A truck bed cover according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the front panel and the rear panel include a slide member that engages a respective bracket on at least one of the two side panels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A truck bed cover according to claim 1, wherein each top lock member applies force to sides of the top panel above the axis of rotation of one of the side hinges when the side panels are oriented vertically. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A truck bed cover according to claim 1, wherein each top lock member includes an opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A truck bed cover according to claim 8, further comprising a vehicle lock member on a wall of the truck, wherein the vehicle lock member engages the opening when the side panels are in a horizontal orientation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A truck bed cover according to claim 1, wherein the side hinges each include a plate above the respective axis of rotation, and each top lock member contacts a respective late when the two side panels are vertically oriented. ### Claim 11 A method of covering a bed of a truck, said method comprising the steps of: providing: a top panel; two side panels, each coupled to the top with side hinges at opposite sides of the top, respectively, said two side panels transitionable from parallel with the top to perpendicular with the top; a front panel and a rear panel, each coupled to the top with a front hinge and a rear hinge at opposite sides of the top, respectively, and between the two side panels; a bottom lock member on the bottom of each of the two side panels for attaching the two side panels to opposite walls of the truck that define the bed, respectively; a top lock member at the top of each of the two sides, and causing each top lock member to engage with the side hinges, respectively, to prevent each of the sides from extending past perpendicular with the top when the two sides are swiveled away from parallel with the top. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 11, further comprising the step of providing vehicle lock members on each of the opposite walls of the truck, wherein the vehicle lock members engage the bottom lock members when the two side panels are in a vertical orientation, and engage the top lock member when the two side panel are in a horizontal orientation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 11, wherein in a first configuration the two side panels, the front panel, and the rear panel are in a horizontal orientation and in a second configuration the two side panels, the front panel and the rear panel are in a vertical orientation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 11, wherein an axis of rotation of the rear hinge is perpendicular to and either above or below a further axis of rotation of the side hinges. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 11, where at least one of the top panel, the two side panels, the front panel, and the rear panel are comprised of wood. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the front panel and the rear panel include a slide member that engages a respective bracket on at least one of the two side panels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 11, wherein each top lock member applies force to sides of the top panel above the axis of rotation of one of the side hinges when the side panels are oriented vertically. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 11, wherein each top lock member includes an opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 18, further comprising a vehicle lock member on a wall of the truck, wherein the vehicle lock member engages the opening when the side panels are in a horizontal orientation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) A method of covering a bed of a truck according to claim 11, wherein the side hinges each include a plate above the respective axis of rotation, and each top lock member contacts a respective late when the two side panels are vertically oriented.