Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Load cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-13
2001-05-22
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Load cover
C296S100030, C296S100040, C296S100070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234560
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to cargo covers for vehicles and, more particularly, to a cargo cover for a bed of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide a bed for a vehicle such as a sport utility vehicle and a pick-up truck. Typically, the bed is rectangular in shape to define a cargo area and is closed at the end by a tailgate. The tailgate is hinged to the bed to have an upright position to close the end of the bed and a down position to open the end of the bed.
Many of the pick-up trucks sold today have a cargo cover to cover the bed. The cargo cover is made as a one-piece panel of a relatively “strong/rigid” hard material to withstand predetermined strength and performance specifications. The cargo cover will only fit the bed for which it was designed.
Some pick-up trucks may include two or more rows of seats such as a crew/club or extended cabs and a cargo box or bed behind the cab that is structurally integral with the cab. The lower part of the rear of the cab may be opened and the rearmost seats folded to allow the cargo area to extend forward under the rear cab window into the occupant compartment. The forward part of the cargo area may be a “tub”, open to the rear that may be slid forward to make the forward extension of the cargo area.
Although the above has worked well, it is desirable to provide a versatile cargo cover for this cargo box and sliding tub. It is also desirable to provide a cargo cover which can provide security for the cargo, the cargo and occupant area when the cargo box is extended, or the occupant compartment alone when the cargo box is extended. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a cargo cover for the cargo area of a bed for a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a cargo cover for a bed of a vehicle.
It is another object to provide a cargo cover for a cargo box and sliding tub for a bed of a vehicle.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cargo cover for a cargo area of a bed of a vehicle.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a cargo cover for a bed of a vehicle. The cargo cover includes a plurality of individual panels to cover the cargo area of the bed of a vehicle and a pair of side frames connected to sides of the bed of the vehicle. The cargo cover also includes a pair of side rails operatively cooperating with the panels and the side frames to allow the panels to slide relative to each other to open and close the cargo area of the bed of the vehicle.
One advantage of the present invention is that a cargo cover is provided for a bed of a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the cargo cover provides a “maximum occupant” and “maximum cargo” configuration for a bed of a vehicle. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the cargo cover may cover and secure the cargo, be used to seal the occupant area for occupant security, and the cargo area may be opened to carry large objects without the need to remove the cargo cover from the vehicle. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the cargo cover offers occupant-carrying capability, overall length and maneuverability of a vehicle, with convertibility into the load-carrying length and height of a pickup, and with a variety of ways to configure the cargo area. A further advantage of the present invention is that the cargo cover offers a high degree of flexibility to the vehicle because the cargo area may be open or closed in he maximum occupant and maximum cargo configurations.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5655809 (1997-08-01), Hutchinson
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/237,337 filed Jan. 26, 1999 entitled “Adaptable Pick Up Truck Configuration”.
US Patent Application, Attorney Docket No. H-204033 mailed Jun. 8, 1999 entitled “Re-Configurable Cargo Cover”.
UltraHatch Brochure—1 page No Date.
Rugged Liner Borchure—1 page No Date.
Dayoan D. Glenn
General Motors Corporation
Patel Kiran B.
Sedlar Jeffrey A
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