Abstract:
A pickup-bed cover prop having an elongated base, a pair of straps attached to the base, a pair of struts extending orthogonally from the base, and a clamp on each strut at the end distal from the end attached to the base. Each strut includes a mechanism which allows the length of the strut to be adjusted and secured. The prop is secured to the truck bed by lowering the rear gate of the pickup bed, passing the straps through the space between the rear edge of the bed and the bottom of the gate, aligning the base of the prop with the rear edge of the bed, and closing the gate, thereby securing the straps due to pressure applied to the straps by the rear edge of the bed and the bottom of the gate. The orientation of the cover is secured by clamping the clamps to the rear end of the cover, and adjusting and securing the lengths of the struts. According to the preferred embodiment, the clamps are ratcheting clamps and are pivotable, and the length-adjustment mechanism in each strut is a twist lock/release mechanism.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application is based on provisional patent application serial No. 60/256,175, filed Dec. 15, 2000, of the same title and by the same inventor. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to automobile accessories, more particularly to accessories for pick-up trucks, and more particularly still to accessories for use with pickup truck bed covers.  
           [0003]    Pickup truck owners haul a wide variety of cargos in the beds of their pickup trucks. During fair weather, cargo can be hauled in a pickup bed without concern for damage from the elements. However, during inclement weather some types of cargo must be protected from the environment. To provide such protection, a variety of pickup truck bed covers are manufactured and marketed. However, the usefulness of pickup truck bed covers is hampered by the fact that their design generally allows the cover to be secured only in a horizontal orientation, thereby limiting the height of the cargo that can be hauled in the pickup truck bed. To overcome this limitation, a variety of pickup-bed cover props are manufactured and marketed. However, pickup-bed cover props according to the current state of the art have a number of limitations which makes their use inconvenient or impractical. For instance, current state-of-the-art pickup-bed cover props are typically complicated, bulky, difficult to set up (or require involved, semi-permanent installation), unwieldy to manipulate when altering the height of prop, and/or do not allow continuous adjustment of the height of the prop.  
           [0004]    It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop which is light weight, and simple, convenient, and easy to install and use.  
           [0005]    Furthermore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop which is simple, convenient and easy to secure to the pickup, attach to the pickup-bed cover, and adjust the orientation of the propped-up pickup-bed cover.  
           [0006]    Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop which may be installed without damage to or alteration of the pickup bed.  
           [0007]    Furthermore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop which is simple, convenient and easy to detach from the pickup and the pickup-bed cover.  
           [0008]    Furthermore, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop which allows a pickup-bed cover to be used to cover cargo exceeding the height of the walls of the pickup bed.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop which allows the orientation of a propped-up pickup-bed cover to be adjusted, particularly through a continuum of orientations.  
           [0010]    Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop which maintains the orientation of a propped-up pickup-bed cover when forces, such as wind, air drag or acceleration, are applied to the pickup-bed cover.  
           [0011]    Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop which stabilizes a propped-up pickup-bed cover against pitch and yaw motions.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a pickup-bed cover prop whose installation utilizes to advantage the standard features of a pickup truck, particularly the standard features of a pickup truck bed.  
           [0013]    Additional objects and advantages of the present application will become apparent upon review of the Figures, Detailed Description of the Present Invention, and appended claims.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention is directed to a pickup-bed cover prop having an elongated base, a means for securing the base to the truck bed, a strut extending from the base, and a means for removably attaching the top end of the strut to the cover to secure the cover at an orientation where it does not rest on the side or rear walls of the pickup truck bed. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 shows the pickup-bed cover prop of the present invention utilized to elevate the rear end of a bed cover.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 shows the pickup-bed cover prop of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of a portion of the base of the pickup-bed cover prop of the present invention with a sectional view of a strap which passes through a slit in the base.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 shows a close-up, sectional view of the internal length-adjustment mechanism within a strut.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of a ratcheting clamp at the top end of a strut. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    As can be seen from FIG. 1, the height-adjustable pickup-bed cover prop  100  of the present invention is used for securing a cover  210  for the bed  230  of a pickup truck  240  at a desired height. Typically, the cover  210  is pivotable on hinges  215  located at the top of the bed  230  at the end nearest the cab  250  of the truck  240 . When the bed  230  carries no cargo, or a cargo (not shown) having a height less than the depth of the bed  230 , then the cover  210  may be secured horizontally (not depicted) so as to seal the bed  230 . However, if the cargo has a height greater than the depth of the bed  230 , then an unsecured cover  210  will not have a secured pitch orientation and will tend to bounce up and down during travel. Such a situation is likely to cause damage to the cover  210  or the cargo.  
         [0021]    The height-adjustable pickup-bed cover prop  100  of the present invention is shown in detail in FIG. 2. The prop  100  has an elongated base  105  with a through-slit  112  located near each end of the base  105 . As shown in the cut-away close-up view of FIG. 3, each strap  110  passes through a through-slit  112 , and is secured to the base  105  by bonding end portions  108  of the strap  110  together, so that a loop  109  is formed by a central portion  109  of the strap  110 . As shown in the cutaway close-up view of FIG. 3, a stiffening strip  107  made of a bendable metal is sandwiched between the bonded end portions  108  of the strap  110 . According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each strap  110  is made of a durable woven nylon or nylon-like material having a thickness of approximately ⅛ inch, and the bendable metal is a #20-gauge, galvanized steel hanger strip. (Although not necessary for the operation of the height-adjustable pickup-bed cover prop  100  of the present invention, the stiffening strip  107  is shown with a series of apertures  106 , since hanger straps require such apertures  106  for their ordinary use.)  
         [0022]    Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, two parallel tubular struts  115  extend perpendicularly from the base  105  at distal ends thereof. A tubular extension arm  120  is slidably mounted coaxially within each strut  115 , and, as shown in FIG. 4, a twist lock/release mechanism  160  within each strut  115  allows the longitudinal position of each extension arm  120  to be locked by a rotation of the extension arm  120  about its longitudinal axis. The longitudinal position of each extension arm  120  may subsequently be unlocked by a rotation in the opposite direction. FIG. 4 provides a cutaway view of the twist lock/release mechanism  160  which allows for rotational locking and unlocking of the position of the tubular extension arm  120  relative to the strut  115 . Such a mechanism  160  is, for instance, used by Sunshine Industries, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio for their Webster™ All-Purpose Duster. As shown in FIG. 4, a cap  150  having threading  152  on its outer surface is affixed to the lower end of the extension arm  120 . Disregarding the threading  152  on the threaded cap  150 , the threaded cap  150  has a truncated conical shape, with the cross-sectional diameter of the truncated cone decreasing in the downwards direction. Threaded onto the threaded cap  150  is a threaded sleeve  140  having a circular base  142  and two wings  141  extending upwards from the base  142 . The interior surfaces of the wings  141  are threaded with a pitch to allow threaded mating with the threads of the cap  150 , and the threading of the wings  141  is terminated near the top of the wings  141  to prevent the cap  150  from being separated from the sleeve  140 . The threaded sleeve  140  is made of a material which is rigid, but bendable enough that the wings  141  are bent outwards as the threaded cap  150  is screwed into the threaded sleeve  140  due to the truncated conical shape of the cap  150 . The exterior of dimensions of the wings  141  are sufficiently large, and the exterior surfaces of the wings  141  are sufficiently frictional that the sleeve  140  does not rotate substantially when the cap  150  is rotated, even when the wings  141  are not spread by the cap  150  and the extension arm  120  is movable longitudinally. Furthermore, the exterior of dimensions of the wings  141  are sufficiently large, and the exterior surface of the wings  141  are sufficiently frictional that the sleeve  140  does not rotate and cannot be moved longitudinally when the wings  141  are caused to be spread by the cap  150 . These features allow for the locking and unlocking of the longitudinal position of the extension arm  120  by rotation of the extension arm in a first rotational direction and a second, opposite rotational direction, respectively.  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 2, a U-bracket  125  is mounted at the top end  121  of each extension arm  120 , and each U-bracket  125  is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the extension arm  120  on which it is mounted. Each clamp  130  has a jaw portion  132  and a handle portion  134 , and is pivotally mounted to a U-bracket  125  on a pivot bar  126  which extends between the top ends of the uprights of the U-bracket  125  and passes through the lower half of the jaw portion  132 . Each clamp  130  is spring-biased to force the jaws  132  into a closed position, i.e., a position where outer ends  129  of the top and bottom portions of the jaw  132  are in contact. A first rubber pad  128  is mounted on the outer end  129  of the top portion of the jaw  132  and a second rubber pad  128  is mounted on the outer end  129  of the bottom portion of the jaw  132  of each clamp  130 . The rubber pads  128  provide cushioning, so that the clamps  130  do not scratch or mar the pickup-bed cover  210 . When manipulated into the open position by forcing the handle portions  134  of a clamp  130  together, the jaws  132  spread such that there is a distance of approximately 7.6 cm between the rubber pads  128 . The spring-loading of each clamp  130  should provide sufficient force to the jaws  132  to provide a grip on the pickup-bed cover  210  which is firm enough to withstand dislocating forces induced during motion of the pickup truck  240 . Yet the spring-loading of each clamp  130  should not be so strong as to prevent a person with reasonable hand strength from squeezing the handle sections  134  together, and thereby opening the jaws  132 , using a single hand.  
         [0024]    In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a ratcheting clamp  330 , as shown in FIG. 5, is substituted for each of the spring-biased clamps  130  described above. Each ratcheting clamp  330  has a jaw  332  and a handle  334 , and is pivotally mounted to each U-bracket  125  on a pivot bar  126  which extends between the top ends of the uprights of the U-bracket  125  and passes through the lower half  332   b  of the jaw  332 . The upper half  332   t  of the jaw  332  is integrally connected to the bottom half  334   b  of the handle  334 , and the lower half  332   b  of the jaw  332  is integrally connected to the upper half  334   t  of the handle  334 . Each ratcheting clamp  330  is biased by a biasing spring (not visible in FIG. 5) located inside the exterior of the clamp  330  near a pivot  341  about which the upper half  332   t  of the jaw  332  and the lower half  334   b  of the handle  334  pivots about the lower half  332   b  of the jaw  332  and the upper half  334   t  of the handle  334 . The biasing spring forces the jaws  332  into an open position, i.e., a position where outer ends  329  of the top and bottom portions  332   t  and  332   b  of the jaw  332  are separated. An upper grip pad  328   t  is mounted on the outer end  329  of the top half  332   t  of the jaw  332 , and a lower grip pad  328   b  is mounted on the outer end  329  of the lower half  332   b  of the jaw  332  of each clamp  330 . The upper and lower grip pads  328   t  and  328   b  are rotatable about upper and lower pad pivots  342   t  and  342   b  to provide good contact with the pickup-bed cover  210  which is to be gripped by the clamps  330 . An arced ratchet arm  351  is mounted on the bottom half  334   b  of the handle  334 , and extends upwards through an aperture (not visible in FIG. 5) in the upper half  334   t  of the handle  334 . The center of the arc of the ratchet arm  351  is roughly coincident with the location of the pivot  341 . The ratchet arm  351  has a series on inclined teeth  352  along the side of the ratchet arm  351  closest to the pivot  341 . A pawl  355 , which is pivotable about a pawl pivot  356  located on the upper half  334  of the handle  334  near the pivot  341 , has an aperture (not visible in FIG. 5) through which the ratchet arm  351  passes, and is biased by spring  357  to be engaged with the teeth  352  of the ratchet arm  351 , thereby preventing the jaws  332  from opening. However, since the teeth  352  are inclined, while the pawl  355  is engaged with the teeth  352  of the ratchet arm  351 , the upper and lower halves  334   t  and  334   b  of the handle  334  can be moved together to cause the jaws  332  to be closed. The jaws  332  may be separated by pressing the pawl  335  against the bias of the spring  357  and towards the upper half  334   t  of the handle  334 , thereby rotating the pawl  355  away from contact with the teeth  352  of the ratchet arm  351 . The spring-bias of the jaws  332  discussed above will force the top and bottom halves  332   t  and  332   b  of the jaws  332  apart when the pawl  355  is pressed against the upper half  334   t  of the handle  334 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention which uses ratcheting clamps, each ratcheting clamp  330  is a Quick-Grip®, Handi-Clamp™, item number AMT 58300, distributed by American Tool Companies of Vernon Hills, Ill.  
         [0025]    When manipulated into the open position by pressing the pawl  355  against the upper half  334   t  of the handle  334 , the jaws  332  spread such that there is a distance of approximately 5.0 cm between the grip pads  328   t  and  328   b . In contrast with the spring-biased clamps  130  discussed above, the pressure exerted by grip pads  328   t  and  328   b  on the rear end  211  of the pick-up bed cover  210  is dependent on the force applied in pressing the top and bottom halves  334   t  and  334   b  of the handle  334  together. In use as described below, the pressure exerted by grip pads  328   t  and  328   b  on the rear end  211  of the cover  210  should be sufficient to withstand dislocating forces induced during motion of the pickup truck  240 .  
         [0026]    The use of the height-adjustable pickup-bed cover prop  100  of the present invention involves the steps of:  
         [0027]    (1) securing the base  105  of the prop  100  at the rear the bed  230  of the truck  240 ;  
         [0028]    (2) attaching the clamps  130  or  330  to the rear end  211  of the cover  210 ; and  
         [0029]    (3) adjusting and securing the heights of the extension arms  120  as desired, thereby securing the orientation of the cover  210 .  
         [0030]    It should be noted that the above steps need not be performed in the order listed.  
         [0031]    The base  105  is secured to the bed  230  of the truck  240  by feeding the end portion  108  of each strap  110  between the bottom edge of the tailgate  220  and the rear end of the bed  230  when the tailgate  220  is ajar to some extent, and then closing the tailgate  220  so that the straps  110  are secured by pressure between the bottom of the tailgate  220  and the rear end of the bed  230 . The stiffening strips  107  in the end portions  108  of the straps  110  supplements the stiffness of the nylon material in the straps  110 , so that the end portions  108  of the straps  110  may more easily be passed through the region between the bottom edge of the tailgate  220  and the rear end of the bed  230 . The stiffening strips  107  are sufficiently bendable that they  107  will readily deform when the tailgate  220  is shut, so as not to damage the tailgate  220  or the rear end of the bed  230 . Furthermore, the stiffening strips  107  are located in the straps  108  sufficiently near the ends thereof to avoid contact of the portions of the straps  108  having stiffening strips  107  with the bottom edge of the tailgate of the vehicle  240 . Optimal performance of the prop  100  is obtained when the base  105  abuts the edge between the tailgate  220  and the bed  230 , so that the base  105  has limited mobility. As described above, the longitudinal positions of the extension arms  120  can be adjusted, and locked in place by rotation of the extension arms  120  about their longitudinal axes. It should be noted that the use of two struts  115  in the pickup-bed cover prop of the present invention (rather than just a single strut  115 ) provides the advantage of securing the cover  210  against yaw (i.e., side-to-side rocking motion). The adjustability of the orientation of the clamps  130  or  330 , and the distance which the pads  128  or  328   t  and  328   b  of the jaws  132  or  332  of the clamps  130  or  330  may spread, allows a wide variety of constructions of pick-up bed covers  210  to be gripped by the clamps  130  or  330 .  
         [0032]    The foregoing descriptions of a specific embodiment of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and it should be understood that many modifications and variations are possible and are to be considered within the scope of the present invention. For instance: the clamps may have some other construction; the clamps may be of some other size; the clamps may be biased using some other means; the ends of the extension arms may be removably securable to the end of the bed cover using some other means; the extension arms may use some other type of internal mechanism to provide positional locking and unlocking by rotation of the extension arm; locking and unlocking of the position of the extension arm may be accomplished using a mechanism which is not activated by rotation of the extension arm; the straps may be made of a material which does not require an additional element to provide stiffening; the straps may be mounted to the base of the prop in some other fashion; the prop may have only a single strut; the extension arms may use some other type of mechanism to secure their position relative to the strut; etc. Therefore, it is intended that the scope of the invention will be defined by the claims which are appended below and their equivalents.