Bedcover suspension/access system
OwnerBruce L. Kepley, Robert M. Farnaminventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rigid bedcover and suspension/access system that provides substantially uniform and stable suspension throughout the angle of travel of the bedcover from the fully closed position to the fully open position. An offset hinge pivotally supports the bedcover and a counterbalanced suspension system suspends the pivoting bedcover with a substantially constant force throughout its path of travel from a fully closed position at 0 degrees to a fully open position at approximately 90 degrees. The counterbalanced suspension system of this invention does not require the hydraulic piston required by the prior art and provides a counterbalancing force and stable opening at every angle.
Claims15
A cover system for covering a cargo area of a truck, said cover system comprising:
- a rigid truck bedcover for covering a cargo area of a truck, and
- a hinge device for pivotally supporting said bedcover with respect to said cargo area and permitting said bedcover to pivot from a closed position enclosing said cargo area to an open position providing access to the cargo area, said hinge device comprising a C-shaped hinge arm pivoting about a hinge axis and adapted to be located inside the cargo bed area without modifying the sheet metal body of the truck, while enabling flush mounting of the bedcover to the inside of the truck bed rails,
- wherein torque is transmitted from said bedcover to said truck through said hinge device and said suspension system, wherein said hinge device comprises a hinge arm fixed to said bedcover and a bearing member mounted to said truck, and said suspension system comprises a first gear fixed to said hinge arm, a second gear matingly engaging said first gear, and a power spring having a first end fixed to said second gear and second end fixed to said truck.
A cover system for a covering a cargo area of a truck, said cover system comprising:
- a rigid truck bedcover for covering a cargo area of a truck, and
- a hinge device for pivotally supporting said bedcover with respect to said cargo area and permitting said bedcover to pivot from a closed position enclosing said cargo area to an open position providing access to the cargo area, said hinge device comprising a C-shaped hinge arm defining a hinge axis adapted to be located inside the cargo bed area and permitting integrity of seal operation without modifying the sheet metal body of the truck, while enabling flush mounting of the bedcover to the inside of the truck bed rails, and
- wherein said hinge device permits said bedcover to pivot from approximately zero degrees at said closed position to approximately ninety degrees at said open position.
A cover system for a covering a cargo area of a truck, said cover system comprising:
- a rigid truck bedcover for covering a cargo area of a truck, and
- a suspension system for supporting said truck bedcover with respect to said cargo area, said suspension system generating a counterbalance force to counterbalance the force of said bedcover in an open position whereby said bedcover is inclined with respect to said cargo area to provide access to said cargo area, said suspension system comprising an offset hinge for pivotally supporting said bedcover with respect to said cargo area wherein a portion of said bedcover is cantilevered on both sides of said offset hinge to permit a front edge of said bedcover to pivot into the cargo area
- wherein said counterbalancing force is substantially uniform throughout a range of positions of said bedcover from a closed position where access to the cargo area is denied to said open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.