Retrofittable tonneau cover latch systems
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMatthew B. Rutman, Daniel Ritz, Ming Hong Choi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tonneau cover latch systems are provided for motor vehicles. An exemplary latch system may be configured to latch and unlatch the tonneau cover relative to a cargo bed of a motor vehicle. The latch system may include a first striker mounted to a first side wall of the cargo bed, and a first latch assembly movable between a first position in which the first latch assembly is engaged to the first striker and a second position in which the first latch assembly is disengaged from the first striker. In an exemplary method, the latch system may be retrofitted to a tonneau cover as a drop-in replacement part of an existing latch system.
Claims20
A motor vehicle, comprising:
- a cargo bed;
- a tonneau cover;
- and
- a latch system configured to latch and unlatch the tonneau cover relative to the cargo bed,
- wherein the latch system includes a first striker mounted to a first side wall of the cargo bed and a first latch assembly movable between a first position in which the first latch assembly is engaged to the first striker and a second position in which the first latch assembly is disengaged from the first striker.
A latch system for a tonneau cover, comprising:
- a first striker;
- and
- a first latch assembly including a stationary carrier, a movable latch component, and a spring configured to bias the movable latch component into engagement with the first striker.
A method for retrofitting a latch system onto a tonneau cover, comprising:
- disassembling a portion of the tonneau cover to expose a crossbar;
- removing an existing latch assembly from the crossbar;
- securing a latch assembly of the latch system to the crossbar;
- and
- reassembling the portion of the tonneau cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.