Patent ID: 6543834
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B60J

Abstract:
A flip top locking truck topper comprising:a topper having a forward wall in a fixed position somewhat positioned parallel to a rear window of a pickup truck, and a pivoting shell having side walls, a top portion, and a rear portion; a lower edge of the forward wall sealing against a forward portion of the pickup truck bed; a seal between an outer edge of the forward wall and a forward edge of the shell; a hinge support rigidly attached to a forward end inside of the pickup bed, the forward wall being forward of the hinge support; one or more hinges, one plate of the hinge being attached to the hinge support, and another hinge plate being attached to an inside surface of the top portion of the shell; one or more lock block(s), the lock block attached to a lower sealing edge at a rear position on the lower edge of the side walls of the shell corresponding to position of a stake bed opening or openings on side wall of the pickup truck bed, the lock block(s) engaging and interacting with the stake bed opening(s) on side walls of the pickup bed when the shell is in the closed position, the lock block locks and secures a rear end of the shell to the side walls of the pickup bed and secures the shell in the closed position; and a lift mechanism, one end of the lift mechanism attached to a lower position on the hinge support, a forward position within the truck bed or forward wall of the pick up truck bed, and another end of the lift mechanism attached to an inside surface of the top portion of the shell; the lift mechanism lifting and pivoting the shell between a closed position and an open position; from the closed position, the lifting mechanism first lifts a forward end of the shell to break a seal between the forward wall and the forward edge of the shell, then pushes the shell rearward to disengage the lock block(s) from the stake bed opening(s), and then pivoting a rear end of the shell upward about the hinge(s); and from the open position, the lifting mechanism pivots the shell downward about the hinge(s) to a closed position inserting the lock block(s) into the stake bed opening(s), pulls the shell forward to engage and lock the lock block within the stake bed opening(s), and then pulls the forward edge of the shell downward to seal the forward edge to the seal on the forward wall.