Patent ID: 11938800
Assignee: EXTANG CORPORATION
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 13:
14. A method of operating a tonneau cover, the tonneau cover configured for placement above a cargo area of a vehicle, the cargo area having a plurality of side walls, a front wall that is adjacent to a passenger area of a vehicle, and an opposing tailgate, the method comprising:
i) a first moving step where a first movable panel of the tonneau cover is moved in an upwardly direction away from a top end of the tailgate and onto a second movable panel of the tonneau cover, then ii) a second moving step where the first movable panel and the second movable panel are together moved onto a third movable panel of the tonneau cover, and then iii) a third moving step where the first movable panel, the second movable panel, and the third movable panel are together moved onto a fourth panel of the tonneau cover, wherein during the third moving step, a torsion element is configured to apply an assisting force or torque onto the third moveable panel to at least partially offset a weight of at least the first movable panel, the second movable panel, and the third movably panel.