US 4,923,240 A · Apparatus for releasably securing a cover to a structure

Abstract

An apparatus for securely covering a material receiving structure, for example the cargo box of a pickup truck, is disclosed which includes a flexible cover, a cover positioning portion attachable to the structure adjacent to an open side thereof, and an engaging portion attached to the cover and selectively engagable with the cover positioning portion to thereby secure the cover over the open side. The cover positioning portion includes a body attachable to the structure, a wall extending from the body at a position spaced from the structure and a lip extending from the body at a position between the wall and the structure. The engaging portion includes a retainer and a bridging section, the retainer being positionable between the lip and wall of the cover positioning portion so that the bridging section contacts the wall when the cover is made taut over the open end of the structure thus causing the retainer to contact the lip. An elastic cord is connected with the engaging portion adjacent to the retainer thereof to bias the retainer toward the body of the positioning portion to supplement securement of the cover at the open end of the structure, and bows may be provided to bridge the open side to thus prevent sagging of the secured cover into the open side of the structure due to moisture accumulation and the like.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A securing apparatus for securing a first section of a flexible cover to a structure, said flexible cover having at least a second section securable to said structure, said securing apparatus comprising:

positioning means for establishing a position of said first section of said flexible cover relative to said structure so that said flexible cover is tautly maintained between said first and second sections of said flexible cover when said sections are secured, said positioning means being attachable to said structure and including a body portion and first and second mounting portions;
engaging means engagable with said positioning means for securely maintaining said flexible cover on said structure, said engaging means being attachable to said first section of said flexible cover and including first and second parts positionable adjacent to said first and second mounting portions of said positioning means so that said first part is urged substantially constantly in a first direction into contact with said first mounting portion of said positioning means by said flexible cover when said second section thereof is secured to said structure, and said second part is urged substantially constantly in a second direction into contact with said second mounting portion of said positioning means by said contact of said first part with said first mounting portion of said positioning means, said contacts maintaining said engaging means in engagement with said positioning means and thus securing said first section of said flexible cover to said structure;
and
biasing means positioned adjacent to said second part of said engaging means for biasing said second part toward said body portion of said positioning means.

1 more element

A cover securing apparatus for releasably securing a flexible cover to a structure, said cover securing apparatus comprising:

cover positioning means for establishing the position of said cover relative to said structure when said cover is secured, said cover positioning means including a body portion attachable to said structure, a wall portion extending from said body at a position above said structure and a lip portion extending from said body portion below said wall portion;
engaging means engagable with said cover positioning means for maintaining said cover on said structure, said engaging means being attachable at one portion thereof to said flexible cover and having a retaining portion releasably positionable adjacent to said body portion of said cover positioning means between said wall portion and said lip portion thereof and a bridging portion extending between said one portion and said retaining portion, said bridging portion contacting said wall portion of said cover positioning means when said retaining portion is positioned adjacent to said body portion of said cover positioning means, and said retaining portion contacting said lip portion of said cover positioning means when said retaining portion is positioned adjacent to said body portion of said cover positioning means;
and
biasing means connected with said engaging means adjacent to said retaining portion thereof for biasing said retaining portion of said engaging means toward said body portion of said cover positioning means.

1 more element

An apparatus for covering an open side of a cargo holding structure having at least a first side wall portion adjacent to said open side of said structure, said apparatus comprising:

a flexible cover;
cover positioning means for establishing the position of said cover relative to said at least first side wall portion of said structure, said cover positioning means including a body portion attachable to said at least first side wall portion of said structure, first and second mounting portions extending from said body portion and resilient protecting means securable adjacent to said body portion for protecting an upper surface of said side wall portion and said cover positioning means from marring during movement of said cargo;
and
engaging means engagable with said cover positioning means for maintaining said cover adjacent to said open side of said structure, said engaging means being attached to said flexible cover and being substantially inflexible in a first direction and including first and second parts positionable adjacent to said first and second mounting portions, said first part being releasably positionable adjacent to said first mounting portion of said cover positioning means so that it can be urged into contact with said first mounting portion, and said second part being urged into contact with said second mounting portion of said cover positioning means when said first part is urged into contact with said first mounting portion of said cover positioning means, said contacts maintaining said engaging means in engagement with said cover positioning means and thus securing said flexible cover adjacent to said open side of said structure.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for releasably securing a cover to a structure

Life of this patent

Apparatus for releasably securing a cover to a structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18