US 4,289,346 A · Collapsible protective cover mechanism

Abstract

A collapsible and extendable protective cover mechanism for storage areas includes a pair of elongated guide tracks positioned in parallel relation on either side of the area to be protected. A plurality of cover segments, each having side portions interconnected by a top portion are positioned with the lower extremities of the side portions in guided engagement with the elongated track means. A power actuator system is interconnected with at least one of the cover segments and, when energized, causes simultaneous movement of the side portions of at least one of the segments, causing the protective cover mechanism to move toward a collapsed position where a majority of the area is exposed or an extended position where substantially all of the area is covered and protected. A single drive motor of the power actuator mechanism functions through a chain drive to cause simultaneous rotation of threaded members that are secured at either side of the area to be protected. An internally threaded connecting element is received by the rotatable threaded elements and is movable linearly upon rotation of the threaded elements. Threaded pins establish connection between the lower portions of at least one of the cover segments and the linearly movable connector element, thus resulting in linear movement of the cover segments upon selective energization of the drive motor.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A collapsible and extendable telescoping protective cover mechanism for selectively covering and protecting the bed of a vehicle, said protective cover mechanism comprising:

a pair of elongated guide track elements being disposed in spaced generally parallel relation on either side of said area to be protected, each of said guide track elements defining a plurality of guide tracks;
a plurality of cover segments including generally upright and generally parallel side portions interconnected by a top portion, the lower portions of said side portions being received in movable guided relation by said guide track means, one of said cover segments adapted to be releasably secured in immovable relation with said vehicle bed and the other cover segments being movably received by said guide track means and being receivable in telescoping relation with said one cover segment, all of said cover segments being removable from said guide track means as a telescoped cover unit, exposing the entire vehicle bed;
and
power actuator means being positioned adjacent each of said guide track means and being interconnected with each side of at least one of said rigid elements, said power actuator means being operative to impart telescoping movement to the side portions of said cover segments to position said cover segments in telescoped position where a majority of said area is uncovered and an extended position where substantially all of said area is covered.

1 more element

A collapsible and extendable protective cover mechanism for selectively covering and protecting an elongated area bed of a transport vehicle having side walls on each side of said bed, said protective cover mechanism comprising:

a plurality of elongated guide track sections being connected to said side walls and oriented in end-to-end registering relation and defining said elongated guide track means;
a plurality of cover segments including generally upright and generally parallel side portions interconnected by a generally horizontal top portion, the lower portions of said side portions being received in movable guided relation by said guide track means;
guide roller means being connected at the lower extremities of said side portions of each of said plurality of cover segments and being receivable within said elongated guide track means, said guide roller means being capable of linearly traversing said registering track sections as said cover mechanism moves to the collapsed and extended positions thereof;
a plurality of elongated, externally threaded sections being nonrotatably connected in end-to-end relation and defining an elongated, externally threaded element, said externally threaded sections are joined in nonrotatable relation by male and female connection elements, said male and female connection elements cooperating to define intermediate support surfaces at the joints of said externally threaded sections;
intermediate support means provides rotatable support for said externally threaded element at said joints;
means rotatably supporting said elongated externally threaded sections in generally parallel relation on said side walls either side of said elongated area;
actuator motor means;
means establishing driving relation between said actuator motor means and one extremity of said elongated threaded element and causing rotational movement of said elongated externally threaded element responsive to movement of said actuator motor;
and
traveler means being in engagement with said externally threaded element and being movable linearly upon rotational movement of said elongated externally threaded element, said traveler means being connected to at least one of said cover segments and causing linear movement of said cover mechanism to said covered and uncovered positions thereof.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsible protective cover mechanism

Life of this patent

Collapsible protective cover mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16