Multiple panel closure for open top of bed of pickup truck

A closure assembly for the bed of a truck having a top opening in a plane, a pair of opposed ends, and a pair of opposed sides comprising:

• first and second panels for one side of the frame, and third and fourth panels for the opposite side of the frame, the panels having closed positions in which the panels are generally coplanar with each other, each panel being movable to an open position from the closed position thereof, there being a first junction between the first and second panels, a second junction between the third and fourth panels, and a third junction between the second and third panels;
• first pivot means at the first junction for mounting each of the first and second panels for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis substantially parallel to the sides of the truck, whereby the portion of the opening of the structure covered by each of the first and second panels can be opened;
• second pivot means at the second junction for mounting each of the third and fourth panels for pivotal movement about a second horizontal axis substantially parallel with the first axis, whereby the portion of the opening covered by each of the third and fourth panels can be opened;
• third means coupled with the first pivot means, respectively, for pivoting the first and second panels as a unit into a side position generally coextensive with one side of the truck and generally transverse to the plane of the opening when one of the first and second panels has been pivoted into a position adjacent to the other panel;
• fourth means coupled with the second pivot means for pivoting the third and fourth panels as a unit into a position generally coextensive with the other side of the truck and generally transverse to the plane of the opening when one of the third and fourth panels has been pivoted into a position adjacent to the other panel;
• and
• brace means for supporting the panels when the panels are in the respective side positions, said brace means having elongated, extensible structure extending transversely of the sides near one of said ends and inwardly of the opening when the panels are in their closed positions, the first pivot means having a first horizontal, open-top channel member for channelling rain water to one end of the first panel, and a second open top channel member for channelling rain water to an end of one of the third and fourth panels.

A closure assembly for a structure having an opening surrounded by a main frame having a pair of opposed ends and a pair of opposed sides comprising:

• a first pair of panels for one side of the frame and a second pair of panels for the opposite side of the frame, the panels having closed positions in which the panels are generally coplanar with each other, each panel being movable to an open position from the closed position thereof, there being a first junction between the first pair of panels, a second junction between the second pair of panels, and a third junction between the first and second pairs of panels;
• first pivot means at the first junction for mounting each of the first pair of panels for pivotal movement about a first axis substantially parallel to the sides of the frame, whereby the portion of the opening of the structure covered by each of the first pair of panels can be opened;
• second pivot means at the junction of the second pair of panels for mounting each of the second pair of panels for pivotal movement about a second axis substantially parallel with the first axis, whereby the portion of the opening covered by each of the second pair of panels can be opened;
• third means coupled with the first pivot means for pivoting the first pair of panels as a unit into a respective side position generally coextensive with one side of the structure and generally transverse to a plane of the opening when one of the panels of the first pair has been pivoted into a position adjacent to the other panel of the first pair;
• fourth means coupled with the second pivot means for pivoting the second pair of panels as a unit into a respective side position generally coextensive with the other side of the structure and generally transverse to the plane of the opening when one of the panels of the second pair has been pivoted into a position adjacent to the other panel of the second pair;
• and
• brace means for supporting the first and second pairs of panels when the panels are in the respective side positions, said brace means having elongated, extensible structure extending transversely of the sides near one of said ends and inwardly of the opening when the panels are in the closed positions thereof generally coplanar with each other, said first pivot means including a U-shaped channel member having a central web and a pair of spaced sides, said first pivot axis being spaced from the web, and a hinge pin pivotally coupling the first pair of panels on the member for movement independently of each other.