Apparatus for covering a truck box (tonneau cover) and mounting structure therefor

Abstract

A tonneau cover for covering a truck box of a pickup type vehicle, comprises a rigid center panel, two rigid side panels, each adapted to be fixed along a top edge of one longitudinal side wall of a truck box, the center panel engaging the side panels in a closed position of the center panel; and mechanisms for supporting the center panel on the truck box such that the center panel may be vertically moved relative to the truck box, between the closed position and an open position in which the center panel is entirely disposed above the side panels. The cover side panels preferably include a seal disposed on inner longitudinal sides of the side panels for sealingly engaging the center panel in the closed position thereof, the center panel is disposed substantially parallel to the side panels in the open position, and the support mechanism includes a plurality of attachment brackets adapted to be fixed to the side walls of said truck box, and pivot mechanisms connected between the attachment brackets and lateral sides of the center panel for permitting the center panel to move between the open and closed positions thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.