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US 9,469,181 B2Granted
Tonneau cover latching mechanism
AssigneeAustin Hardware & Supply, Inc.
InventorsMark Steven Jeffries, Norman Allen Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tonneau cover latching mechanism is described. The tonneau cover latching mechanism provides for the tonneau cover to be slammed or closed shut in a single motion and engage at two points on the pick-up truck to secure the tonneau cover in a closed position. The tonneau cover latching mechanism may include a lockable handle. A link is engaged to the handle. The link is engaged to a spring loading mechanism. A first rod is rotatably engaged to the spring loading mechanism. A second rod is rotatably engaged to the spring loading mechanism. The first rod engages and disengages the first striker. The second rod engages and disengages a second striker.
Claims18
A tonneau cover latching mechanism, comprising:
- a handle;
- a link, the link engaged to the handle;
- a spring loading mechanism, the link engaged to the spring loading mechanism;
- a first rod rotatably engaged to the spring loading mechanism;
- a second rod rotatably engaged to the spring loading mechanism;
- a first striker, and the first rod rotatably engages and disengages the first striker;
- a second striker;
- and the second rod rotatably engages and disengages the second striker;
- wherein the strikers comprise a contact surface and a latching surface that receive the rotating first rod and the rotating second rod;
- and
- wherein an outer periphery of an offset of the first rod contacts the contact surface of the first striker, and the offset rotates as it slides on the contact surface of the first striker, compressing the spring loading mechanism until the offset reaches an end of the contact surface, and the offset snaps by the action of the spring loading mechanism to a resting position on the latching surface of the first striker.
8 more elements
A tonneau cover latching mechanism, comprising:
- a handle;
- a lock cylinder and a lock receiver;
- the lock cylinder is slideably held by the lock receiver, and the handle is connected to the lock cylinder, the lock cylinder configured to slide forward in the lock receiver;
- a link, the link engaged to the handle;
- a spring loading mechanism, the link engaged to the spring loading mechanism;
- a rod rotatably engaged to the spring loading mechanism;
- the rod rotates to engage and disengage a striker;
- wherein the latching mechanism translates a pulling force applied by a user to the handle into a rotational force that rotates the rod to disengage the rod from the striker, wherein the striker comprises a contact surface and a latching surface that receives the rotating rod;
- and
- wherein an outer periphery of the rod contacts the contact surface of the striker, and the rod rotates as it slides on the contact surface of the striker, compressing the spring loading mechanism until the rod reaches an end of the contact surface, and the rod snaps by the action of the spring loading mechanism to a resting position on the latching surface of the striker.
7 more elements
A tonneau cover, comprising:
- a cover for a bed of pick-up truck, the cover movable between an open position and a closed position;
- a latching mechanism attached to or integrated with the cover;
- the latching mechanism comprising:
- a handle;
- a lock cylinder and a lock receiver;
- the lock cylinder is slideably held by the lock receiver, and the handle is connected to the lock cylinder, the lock cylinder configured to move forward in the lock receiver as the handle is pulled forward;
- a link, the link engaged to the handle;
- a spring loading mechanism, the link engaged to the spring loading mechanism;
- a first rod rotatably engaged to the spring loading mechanism;
- a second rod rotatably engaged to the spring loading mechanism;
- a first striker, and the first rod engages and disengages the first striker in a rotating manner wherein an outer periphery of the first rod contacts a contact surface of the first striker, and the first rod rotates as it slides on the contact surface of the first striker, compressing the spring loading mechanism until the first rod reaches an end of the contact surface, and the first rod snaps by the action of the spring loading mechanism to a resting position on a latching surface of the first striker;
- and,
- a second striker;
- and the second rod engages and disengages the second striker in a rotating manner wherein an outer periphery of the second rod contacts a contact surface of the second striker, and the second rod rotates as it slides on the contact surface of the second striker, compressing the spring loading mechanism until the second rod reaches an end of the contact surface, and the second rod snaps by the action of the spring loading mechanism to a resting position on a latching surface of the second striker.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.