Telescopic cover assembly for open bed vehicles

Apparatus for covering in a substantially weathertight sealing configuration the open bed of a vehicle, the bed having first and second ends and opposing sides, said apparatus comprising:

• a. first and second track members adapted to be mounted on the opposite sides of the bed in a parallel relationship to each other, each of said first and second track members including:
• 1. a first elongate runner section extending substantially from the first end of the bed to the second end thereof;
• 2. a second elongate runner section in juxtaposition with said first runner section, said second runner section extending substantially from the first end of the bed to a location past the midpoint between the first and second ends of the bed;
• 3. said first and second runner sections each having a longitudinal roller slot and roller retaining flange extending the length thereof;
• 4. each said roller retaining flange having notches therein in selective locations, said notches being of sufficient size to permit said rollers, set forth below in subparagraph (c) (1), to be removed therethrough;
• b. first and second cover sections each having a length approximately one half that of the bed and a generally inverted U-shaped cross sectional configuration, said second cover section being smaller in height and width than said first cover section whereby it may telescopingly fit within said first cover section;
• c. said first cover section further including roller means affixed on each side thereof and rollably engaged with said slot and roller retaining flange of said second runner sections, said roller means including;
• 1. a first pair of rollers on one end of said first cover section, one on each side thereof, and a second pair of rollers on the other end of said first cover section, one on each side;
• 2. each roller having an axle extending therethrough, said axle affixed to said second cover section in a substantially horizontal cantilevered fashion;
• d. said second cover section further including roller means affixed on each side thereof and rollably engaged with said slot and roller retaining flange of said first runner sections, said roller means having a configuration exactly like that described above in subparagraphs (c) (1) and (c) (2);
• and
• e. said notches in said roller retaining flanges being located along said track members in such a relationship to each other that said second pairs of rollers may be selectively aligned therewith to either individually or simultaneously remove or pivot said first and second cover sections through an arc of from 0.degree. to about 90.degree. with respect to the plane of said track members while said first pairs of rollers remain engaged with said slots and roller retaining flanges.