Pickup truck bed cover system

A cover system for a pickup-type truck or the like having an elongated truck bed with a horizontal truck bed floor portion, a pair of laterally spaced parallel vertically extending side wall portions, and a front end vertical wall portion defining a cargo space therebetween with an open top portion and an openable rear end portion, the system comprising:

• cover means for covering the open top portion of the truck bed and being movable from an open storage position whereat the opening is uncovered and a closed covering position whereat the opening is closed by the cover means;
• laterally spaced parallel cover guide and support track means mounted along a top portion of both of said truck bed side wall portions for slidably guiding and supporting said cover means during movement between said open storage position and said closed covering position;
• said cover means comprising:
• a plurality of separate elongated rigid panel members having a length such as to extend transversely across the entire width of the cargo space between said track means and having side edge portions located in side by side relationship and having opposite end portions mounted on and supported by said track means;
• separate flexible resilient pivotal panel connecting and sealing means having side edge portions for continuously connecting adjacent side edge portions of adjacent ones of said separate panel members to one another along the entire length of said panel members between said track mean and for preventing fluid flow through the space between adjacent panel members across the cargo space;
• housing means located within said cargo space beneath said open top portion at the front end of the truck bed for holding said cover means in the open storage position;
• cover drive means mounted in said housing means for driving engagement with said panel members intermediate said track means and for moving said cover means between said open storage position and said closed covering position;
• reel means in said housing means for supporting said cover means and enabling said cover means to be wound thereabout during movement from the closed covering position to the open storage position and to be unwound therefrom during movement from the open storage position t the closed covering position;
• and
• motor means mounted in said housing means and being operably connected to said cover drive means and said reel means for selectively causing synchronized movement of said cover means between said open storage position and said closed covering position by positive direct synchronized driving engagement between said cover means and each of said cover drive means and said reel means.