Patent ID: 8182020
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: B62D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A transformable cover assembly for conventional pickup trucks of the type having a cab with a rear cab portion, a rear, a rear cargo bed bounded by sides, and a tailgate, the cover assembly comprising: a rigid shell operationally disposed within and semi-permanently attached to said cargo bed, said shell comprising a pair of rigid, spaced apart, generally triangular side walls extending along the sides of said cargo bed, said sidewalls tapering to a reduced height towards said truck rear; means for semi-permanently mounting said shell within said bed; a rigid, aerodynamic cover adapted to be selectively disposed over said shell for covering said truck bed, said aerodynamic cover having a front and a rear; means for pivotally, removably coupling said aerodynamic cover to said shell such that the aerodynamic cover may selectively assume one of the following configurations: a pair of flexible sidewalls attached to said aerodynamic cover that are normally stowed beneath said aerodynamic cover and which may be selectively unfurled from said aerodynamic cover on opposite sides thereof to enclose said bed by making contact with said shell sidewalls when said aerodynamic cover is disposed in said fully deployed, elevated configuration; a pair of sidewall hangers for suspending the sidewalls, the sidewall hangers attached to the aerodynamic cover; a pair of sleeve tubes pivotally attached to said aerodynamic cover that extend towards the truck rear at an incline for deploying the sidewalls, said sleeve tubes having first ends pivotally connected to said aerodynamic cover proximate said truck cab and the sleeve tubes comprising opposite spaced apart ends terminating in coaxially fitted pivot tube stubs; a flexible rear hatch attached to said aerodynamic cover rear; means associated with said aerodynamic cover for stowing said sidewalls and said rear hatch when said aerodynamic cover is either disposed in said aerodynamic position or removed from said shell; a pair of adjustable stanchions pivotally attached to said aerodynamic cover proximate said truck bed rear adapted to be foldably deployed vertically for elevating and supporting the aerodynamic cover when the aerodynamic cover is disposed in said fully deployed, elevated position, said stanchions comprising lower ends and spaced apart upper ends foldably attached to said aerodynamic cover; keeper bracket means attached to the inside portions of the triangular sides of said shell for supporting said stanchions and said sleeve tubes, the lower ends of said stanchions being releasably, pivotally pinned to said keeper bracket means; means for pivotally coupling said pivot tubes to said lower ends of said stanchions, elongated cradles defined atop sides of said shell for selectively receiving and nesting said sleeve tubes when the aerodynamic cover assumes said fully deployed, elevated configuretion; and, whereby, when said aerodynamic cover is removed from said shell after unpinning said stanchions from said keeper bracket means, the aerodynamic cover, the sleeve tubes and the stanchions are removed together from said shell by withdrawal of said aerodynamic cover.