Patent ID: 6276735
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B60J,B60R

Abstract:
A toolbox with built-in-roll-top tonneau cover for a truck having an open cargo bed defined by a substantially flat bottom having a front portion and a rear portion, two side walls, a front wall at the front portion and a tailgate at the rear portion, comprising:a toolbox adapted to be secured to the bottom of the cargo bed at the rear portion, said toolbox having a concealed rear portion;a roll top tonneau cover rotatably mounted and secured within the concealed rear portion of the tool box to form a single unitary tool-box structure, whereby the cover operatively conceals both the toolbox and cargo bed in an extended state, said roll top tonneau cover having a plurality of successive and interconnected slats, each of said plurality of interconnected slats includes a reinforced rubber connecter assembly for interconnecting each of said plurality of slats at a first and second adjoining edge, said first and second adjoining edge having a respective first and second tapered channel for frictionally securing the reinforced rubber connector assembly therebetween;a first and second U-shaped track, each said track substantially extending from the front portion to the rear portion of the cargo bed and adapted to be respectively mounted on top edges of the two side walls, each said track having a preselected coefficient of friction for minimizing friction between contact surfaces of the cover and each track;spring-loaded return means for returning the tonneau cover to a retracted position within the concealed portion of the toolbox, the spring-loaded return means being used in combination with an auxiliary manual return mechanism for manually retracting said cover.