Pickup truck bed cover

A covering device for a pickup truck, wherein said pickup truck includes a bed bounded by a cab, a first truck side, and a second truck side, and wherein said pickup truck includes a toolbox, mounted within said bed proximate said cab, and spanning the distance from said first truck side to said second truck side, said covering device comprising:

• a. a cover, rotatably mounted to said toolbox in a position distal from said cab, wherein said cover is capable of moving between an open position providing access to said bed and a closed position covering over said be, and wherein when said cover is in said closed position, said cover allows access to said toolbox;
• b. an extendable lift cylinder, having a first end and a second end, wherein said lift cylinder is capable of exerting substantial mechanical force;
• c. wherein said first end of said lift cylinder is attached to said truck;
• d. wherein said second end of said lift cylinder is attached to said cover, so that when said lift cylinder is extended, said cover is rotated up and away from said bed toward said open position;
• and
• e. control means for actuating said lift cylinder.

A covering device for a pickup truck, wherein said pickup truck includes a bed bounded by a cab, a first truck side, and a second truck side, comprising:

• a. a cover, rotatably mounted to said pickup truck in a position proximate said cab, wherein said cover is capable of moving between an open position providing access to said bed and a closed position covering over said bed;
• b. an extendable lift cylinder, having a first end and a second end;
• wherein said lift cylinder is capable of exerting substantial mechanical force;
• wherein said first end of said lift cylinder is attached to said pickup truck;
• c. wherein said second end of the said lift cylinder is attached to said cover, so that when said lift cylinder is extended, said cover is rotated up and away from said bed toward said open position;
• d. control means for actuating said lift cylinder;
• e. wherein said cover is generally rectangular in shape, having a forward portion which is rotatably mounted to said pickup truck, a first side portion positioned to close over said first truck side, a second side portion positioned to close over said second truck side, an upper surface, and a lower surface;
• f. wherein said attachment between said lift cylinder and said cover comprises:
• i. a cover bracket, fixedly attached to said cover on said lower surface;
• ii. sliding means attaching said cover bracket to said second end of the said lift cylinder, wherein said sliding means allows said second end of said lift cylinder to move relative to said cover bracket, over a limited range, with said relative motion being generally parallel to the orientation of said first truck side;
• and
• iii. spring biasing means configured to resist said motion between said second end of said lift cylinder and said cover bracket.