Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Load cover
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-10
2001-05-22
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Load cover
C296S100160, C296S100170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234561
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of soft, tonneau covers and more particularly to the field of soft, tonneau covers for the beds of pickup trucks and similar vehicles.
2. Discussion of the Background
Soft, tonneau covers for pickup trucks and similar vehicles (such as sport utility ones with exposed beds or decks) help to cover and protect the beds of the vehicles and any items in them. Such covers typically are made of flexible fabric, canvas, or vinyl. Additionally, they commonly have a relatively low profile (i.e., extend relatively flat across the top of the bed walls) and can be easily moved to cover and uncover the bed and its contents. They are also often easily and conveniently storable on the vehicle when not in use or easily removed completely from the vehicle for separate storage.
Currently, such soft covers are normally not lockable and can be removed by anyone at any time from over the bed of the vehicle. Some covers like U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,338 to Schmeichel et al. secure the soft cover in place over the bed with nominal locking arrangements but do not do so in combination with a lockable tailgate to create true security.
With this in mind, the lockable tonneau cover and lockable tailgate combination of the present invention was developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention involves a lockable, soft, flexible tonneau cover for the bed of a pickup truck or similar vehicle wherein the lockable tonneau cover is used in combination with a lockable tailgate for increased security. The preferred embodiment includes grooved front, side, and rear rails into which retainer belts on the perimeter of the tonneau cover are insertable to position the cover over the vehicle bed. The front and side rails are respectively attached to the tops of the front and side walls of the bed. The rear rail is mounted to extend and be suspended across the tailgate opening between the side rails.
The mounting for the rear rail includes corner pieces on each side wall of the bed to which the rear rail is pivotally mounted for movement between up and down positions. In the up position, the retainer belt on the rear edge of the untensioned cover can be easily inserted into the groove in the rear rail. Thereafter, the rear rail can be manually rotated or pushed down to its closed position to tension or tighten the cover and move it completely over the vehicle bed. A catch is provided to selectively lock the rear rail in place and keep the rear rail and attached cover in the locked, down position over the bed.
The catch for the rear rail is only accessible through the rear, tailgate opening and the combination of the present invention also includes a tailgate that is lockable. Consequently, to unlock and remove the tonneau cover to expose the bed and its contents, the tailgate must first be unlocked and opened to provide access to the catch for the rear rail. In this manner, increased security is provided by the combination of the lockable tonneau cover and lockable tailgate of the present invention.
In another embodiment, the lock for the rear rail is remotely controlled by an electronic actuator in an equally secure manner.
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Bestop, Inc.
Carson W. Scott
Chenevert Paul
Dayoan D. Glenn
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