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US 6,883,855 B2Granted
Hinged tonneau cover for transporting a significant top load
AssigneeDiamondback Automotive Accessories, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Chverchko, Ethan D. Wendle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeDiamondback Automotive Accessories, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Chverchko, Ethan D. Wendle
Estimating the term…
A cover for the rear storage compartment of a pickup truck or similar vehicle having an open top storage compartment, the cover comprised of at least two panels made of a rigid material casing attached to structural members specifically designed to support and transport a significant load placed on top of the cover. At least one panel is substantially and removably secured to the top of the sidewalls of the rear storage compartment by attachment means that does not require drilling into any portion of the vehicle. In addition, all the non-substantially secured panels are lockable, and are hingedly and removably attached to the at least one substantially secured panel, providing secure and easy access to the rear storage compartment. The hinge attachment further allows for each non-substantially secured panel to be removed individually, providing alternative panel configurations for carrying large items. Finally, all panels work in conjunction with locking rods and water sealant devices to provide a substantially water resistant and secure cover.
A cover for the rear storage compartment of a vehicle, the storage compartment having a vertical front wall adjacent the cab of the vehicle, an opposite rear wall, and two bedrails forming the sidewalls of the compartment, the cover comprised of at least three substantially rectangular panels, each panel comprised of a thin rigid casing attached to a plurality of structural members, the at least three panels further comprised of a center panel securely and non-hingedly mounted directly to the bedrails of the storage compartment, a front panel having an end hingedly mounted to the center panel and having an opposite unencumbered end adjacent the vertical front wall, and a rear panel having an end hingedly mounted to the center panel and having an opposite unencumbered end adjacent the rear tailgate, wherein the cover is of sufficient strength to support a significant top load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.