Attachment system for truck beds
AssigneeSaddleman, Inc.
InventorGary Rippberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An attachment system attaches a structure or tonneau cover to a truck bed with side walls having stake pockets. Fastening plates are pivotally coupled to the structure or the belt rails of the tonneau cover. The plates pivotal between a first orientation in which the plates align with the stake pockets to pass therethrough, and a second orientation in which the plates rotate with respect to the first orientation to abut the stake pockets and secure the structure to the side walls of the truck bed. Tensioners can be coupled to the structure, and engage the fastening plates, to draw the fastening plates towards the structure. A cover can be removably attached to the belt rails to cover the truck bed.
Claims20
An attachment system to attach a structure to a truck bed with side walls having stake pockets, the attachment system comprising:
- fastening plates, pivotally coupled to the structure and receivable in the stake pockets, and pivotal between 1) a first orientation in which the plate is oriented perpendicular to an axis of the stake pocket and to align with the stake pocket to pass therethrough, and 2) a second orientation in which the plate is rotated with respect to the first orientation to abut the stake pocket to secure the structure to the side walls of the truck bed;
- and
- the fastening plates having a length smaller than a length of the stake pockets, but larger than a width of the stake pockets;
- and
- tensioners, coupled to the structure and engaging the fastening plates, to draw the fastening plates towards the structure.
A tonneau system for a truck bed having left and right side walls with stake pockets, the tonneau system comprising:
- left and right side belt rails, to be attached to the respective left and right side walls of the truck bed;
- fastening plates, pivotally coupled to each of the left and right side belt rails, to be received by the stake pockets,
- the fastening plates have a length smaller than a length of the stake pockets, but larger than a width of the stake pockets,
- the fastening plates being pivotal between 1) a first orientation in which the plates are oriented perpendicular to axes of the stake pockets and to align with the stake pockets to pass therethrough, and 2) a second orientation in which the plates are to transverse the stake pockets to abut the side walls proximal the stake pockets to secure the left and right belt rails to the respective left and right side walls of the truck bed;
- and
- a cover, coupled to the belt rails.
A tonneau system a truck bed having left and right side walls with stake pockets, the tonneau system comprising:
- a) left and right side belt rails, to be attached to the respective left and right side walls of the truck bed, having outer channels with an outwardly facing and a downwardly angled orientation;
- b) fastening plates, pivotally coupled to each of the left and right side belt rails, to be received by the stake pockets,
- c) the fastening plates have a length smaller than a length of the stake pockets, but larger than a width of the stake pockets,
- d) the fastening plates being pivotal between 1) a first orientation in which the plates are oriented perpendicular to axes of the stake pockets and to align with the stake pockets to pass therethrough, and 2) a second orientation in which the plates are to transverse the stake pockets to abut the side walls proximal the stake pockets to secure the left and right belt rails to the respective left and right side walls of the truck bed;
- and
- e) a flexible cover, removably attached to the left and right belt rails, having a perimeter flange removably received within the outer channels of the left and right belt rails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.