US 6,234,561 B1Granted

Combination of a lockable, soft tonneau cover and lockable tailgate

AssigneeBestop, Inc.

InventorKeijo J. Huotari

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The combination of a lockable, soft, flexible tonneau cover for the bed of a pickup truck or similar vehicle and a lockable tailgate. The preferred embodiment includes grooved front, side, and rear rails into which retainer belts on the perimeter of the tonneau cover are insertable to position the cover over the vehicle bed. The front and side rails are respectively attached to the tops of the front and side walls of the bed. The rear rail is mounted to extend and be suspended across the tailgate opening between the side rails. A catch is provided to selectively lock the rear rail in place and keep the rear rail and attached cover in the locked, down position over the bed. In the preferred embodiment, the catch for the rear rail is only accessible through the tailgate opening and the tailgate is lockable. Consequently, to unlock and remove the tonneau cover to expose the bed and its contents, the tailgate must first be unlocked and opened to provide access to the catch for the rear rail. In this manner, increased security is provided by the combination of the lockable tonneau cover and lockable tailgate of the present invention. In another embodiment, the lock for the rear rail is remotely controlled by an electronic actuator.

An arrangement including a lockable, soft, flexible tonneau cover for a bed of a vehicle having at least a front wall and two side walls forming three walls of the bed, means for positioning said soft, flexible tonneau cover in a closed position to cover the bed of the vehicle, and means for selectively locking said tonneau cover in said closed position over said bed,

said positioning means for said tonneau cover including a rear rail, means for mounting said rear rail to extend substantially between said two side walls of the bed, and means for attaching said tonneau cover to said rear rail, said rear rail being mounted for movement relative to said two side walls toward and away from said front wall between at least first and second positions, said rear rail in said second position being farther away from the front wall than in said first position, said rear rail in said second position extending substantially horizontally between the two side walls, said tonneau cover being in said closed position when said attached rear rail is moved to said second position, and
said locking means for said tonneau cover including means for selectively keeping said rear rail in said second position wherein said mounting means for said rear rail mounts said rear rail for pivotal movement about an axis between said first and second positions, said mounting means having an end section spaced from said pivotal axis, said end section moving along a predetermined path about the pivotal axis as said rear rail is pivotally moved between said first and second positions, said means for selectively keeping said rear rail in said second position including a catch selectively movable into and away from said predetermined path to selectively prevent and permit said rear rail to be moved from said second position to said first position, said catch being supported for sliding movement between respective positions preventing and permitting said rear rail to be moved from said second position to said first position.

Facts

Application

09/393,905Filed 10 Sep 1999 · us provisional application

Priority

11 Sep 1998

Granted

22 May 2001

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60J 7/198
For rigid panels: for locking tonneau covers such as covers for roof storage compartments or for pick-up truck beds
B60J 7/10
Of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a…:…
B60J 7/102
Readily detachable, e.g. tarpaulins with frames, or fastenings for tarpaulins: readily detachable tarpaulins, e.g. for utility vehicles; Frames…
B60J 7/104
Readily detachable tarpaulins, e.g. for utility vehicles; Frames therefor: fastening means for tarpaulins

Abstract

Claims24