Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Load cover
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-14
2001-06-12
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Load cover
C296S100110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244651
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a utility cover for the bed of a pickup truck, and more specifically, a vertically and horizontally collapsible cover suspended from a support platform that is mounted to the truck bed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Pickup truck beds have been used for years to store and transport a variety of items such as tools and various other cargo. However, because the bed is open, any cargo contained therein may be easily stolen, vandalized or damaged by wind and rain. Numerous pickup truck bed covers, tents and caps have been previously designed in an attempt to solve this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,757 issued to Reed relates to a cargo box mounted to an annular plate secured to the rear window. The box is supported by a horizontal rigid bar.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,182 issued to Aragon relates to a retractable top for a pickup truck bed including an elongated canopy securable over the bed of the pickup truck. The canopy comprises a plurality of telescopically mated rigid sections each having a generally C-shaped vertical cross section. Each canopy section has a plurality of rollers extending from the bottom edge of each side wall that slide within a track mechanism on the side walls of the pickup truck. An electrical drive mechanism is coupled to the track and roller mechanisms for extending and retracting the canopy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,264 issued to Wilson relates to a pickup truck cargo bed built by the truck manufacturer including movable panels which allow the cargo bed to be interchangeably converted from a partially enclosed small cargo storage compartment to a fully open truck bed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,603 issued to Hertzberg et al relates to a telescopic camper cap comprising a fixed cover member mounted to the top of the bed sidewalls, at least one movable cover member telescopingly received therein and a track assembly mounted on the walls within which dowels on each cover member are slidably received.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,497 issued to Alonzo, Jr. et al relates to an expandable camper body for use in a pickup truck including two units. A front unit is fastened to the truck bed side rails and a back unit is telescopingly received within the front unit that, when fully extended, completely overlaps the tailgate. The back unit has two tailgate portions. The upper tailgate locks to the truck side walls and the lower tailgate pivots and locks to the truck bed so as to provide a camper unit or an open bed pickup truck as desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,295 issued to Moberly relates to a collapsible cap for a pickup truck including a pair of track members mounted to the side walls of the pickup truck and a series of collapsible frame members mounted to the track members.
Although numerous collapsible pickup truck bed caps exist in the prior art, these devices are inadequate for several reasons. The previously designed collapsible units may only be collapsed horizontally against the truck cab. In the collapsed position, the cap still fully extends vertically which is unsightly and increases the risk of the cap shifting when the vehicle is moving. Accordingly, the only alternative is to completely remove the cover which is time consuming and laborious. Furthermore, the horizontally collapsible devices are manually slid within a track mechanism and are difficult and cumbersome to retract. The present invention relates to both a vertically and horizontally collapsible truck bed cap which may be selectively locked in a retracted position preventing unauthorized users from manipulating the device. A canopy portion is supported by spring loaded, horizontally telescoping frame members which facilitate the expansion thereof. Additionally, the vertical support members depend from a fixed platform mounted to the pickup truck bed having a tool box removably attached thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a unique pickup truck bed cap which may be vertically and horizontally collapsed within the pickup truck bed. The device comprises a planar platform attached to the truck bed, preferably adjacent the passenger cab. The platform has a tool box removably attached thereto. Two opposing pairs of vertically extendable hydraulic support legs each vertically depend from the platform. The cover member is further supported by a plurality of inverted U-shaped frame members. The cover member surrounds a flexible canopy member and is attached to a portion thereof. The canopy is supported by a frame structure which includes two opposing pairs of horizontally telescoping, spring loaded arms received within the cover member allowing the canopy member to be horizontally extended or retracted as desired. The cover member is further supported by a plurality of inverted U-shaped frame members. Each lower telescoping arm has a roller at a distal end for rollably engaging a track mechanism attached to a truck bed sidewall allowing the device to easily slide horizontally therealong. The roof portion of the canopy member is further supported with a collapsible, accordion style frame comprising a plurality of collapsible X-shaped frame members disposed between and attached to the opposing upper arms. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pickup truck cap that is both vertically and horizontally collapsible.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pickup truck cap depending from a platform having a tool box mounted thereon.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pickup truck cap that is easily and conveniently extended or retracted.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pickup truck cap that may be selectively locked in a retracted position. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with attached drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4397497 (1983-08-01), Alonzo, Jr. et al.
patent: 4789196 (1988-12-01), Fields
patent: 5056855 (1991-10-01), Moravsky
patent: 5203364 (1993-04-01), Koole
patent: 5203603 (1993-04-01), Hertzberg et al.
patent: 5263757 (1993-11-01), Reed
patent: 5443295 (1995-08-01), Moberly
patent: 5464264 (1995-11-01), Wilson
patent: 5516182 (1996-05-01), Aragon et al.
patent: 5531497 (1996-07-01), Cheng
patent: 5845957 (1998-12-01), Hurst
Pape Joseph D.
Tolar Kenneth L
LandOfFree
Pickup truck bed cap does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pickup truck bed cap, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pickup truck bed cap will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2455335