Tonneau system with flexible cover
AssigneeRivian IP Holdings, LLC
InventorsJames John Alexander DOWLE, Philipp Josef WOLF, Greg WITTEN, Andrew FRIEROTT
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Particular embodiments may provide a tonneau system for a vehicle. The tonneau system may be movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The tonneau system may include a cover, a beam, and rails. The cover may have two side edges and a tail edge, the beam may be coupled to the tail edge of the cover, and the rails may be coupled to the side edges of the cover. In some embodiments, the beam and the rails bi-directionally tension the cover when the tonneau system is in the extended configuration.
Claims20
A tonneau system for a vehicle, the tonneau system movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, the tonneau system comprising:
- a cover comprising two side edges and a tail edge;
- a beam coupled to the tail edge of the cover;
- and
- rails coupled to the side edges of the cover, wherein
- the beam and the rails bi-directionally tension the cover when the tonneau system is in the extended configuration.
A method of closing a tonneau system, the system comprising a cover, the method comprising:
- moving the tonneau system from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration, wherein moving the tonneau system to the extended configuration comprises bi-directionally tensioning the cover in the extended configuration.
A vehicle comprising
- a cargo area;
- and
- a tonneau system comprising an extended configuration that overlaps the cargo area and a retracted configuration that overlaps less of the cargo area than the extended configuration, wherein the tonneau system comprises:
- a cover comprising two side edges and a tail edge,
- a beam coupled to the tail edge of the cover, and
- rails coupled to the side edges of the cover, wherein
- the beam and the rails bi-directionally tension the cover when the tonneau system is in the extended configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.