Abstract:
A truck bed cover includes a pair of channels, each channel having an inwardly directed and outwardly directed receiving channel there along, slidably engaged on inwardly directed flanges of the side panels of the truck bed. At least one cover panel is then slid forwardly between the inwardly directed receiving channels of the channels on the flanges to cover the truck bed. A connector member which extends between the channels is utilized to interconnect cover panels on the truck bed. In trucks having a trapezoidal shaped bed, the channels have openings formed in upper portions of the forward ends thereof, and trapezoidal shaped cover panels are dropped through the opening and then slid rearwardly into engagement with a connector on the rearward most panel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/106,172, filed Oct. 29, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to covers for the beds of pickup trucks, and more particularly to an improved hard cover which may be quickly and easily attached and removed from a truck bed without the use of tools or fasteners. 
     (2) Background Information 
     Covers for truck beds have been manufactured for many years, but still suffer several problems. The most basic problem is the requirement of tools and fasteners to install the cover onto the truck panels. In most cases, prior art truck bed covers are bolted into the panels, thereby leaving permanent holes in the truck if the fasteners are ever removed. 
     Another problem with prior art truck bed covers is in the time and effort required to attach or remove the cover from the truck. Typically, power tools are required for this endeavor and in most cases it takes hours to initially install the cover, or permanently remove the cover. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved truck bed cover for pickup trucks. 
     Another object is to provide a truck bed cover and attachment system which may be quickly and easily installed and removed from the pickup truck without the use of tools. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved truck bed cover which does not utilize fasteners bolted into the truck, to thereby permit complete removal of the cover from the truck without damage to the truck itself. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     The truck bed cover of the present invention includes a pair of channels, each channel having an inwardly directed and outwardly directed receiving channel there along, slidably engaged on inwardly directed flanges of the side panels of the truck bed. At least one cover panel is then slid forwardly between the inwardly directed receiving channels of the channels on the flanges to cover the truck bed. A connector member which extends between the channels is utilized to interconnect cover panels on the truck bed. In trucks having a trapezoidal shaped bed, the channels have openings formed in upper portions of the forward ends thereof, and trapezoidal shaped cover panels are dropped through the opening and then slid rearwardly into engagement with a connector on the rearward most panel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     Several embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which similar or corresponding parts are identified with the same reference numeral throughout the several views, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the truck bed cover of the present invention installed on a truck; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a truck with the truck bed cover thereon; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of a truck with the truck bed cover thereon, with portions shown in section to more clearly show detail of the truck bed cover; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the truck with an operable door of the cover moved to an open position; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the truck bed cover; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the truck bed cover of the present invention is designated generally at  10  and includes a plurality of rigid panels  12 ,  14 , and  16  slidably mounted between a pair of channels  18  and  20  to form a rigid cover over the bed  22  of a truck  24 . Truck bed cover  10  is mounted between the upper edges of the bed side panels  26  and  28 , and between the forward panel  30  and tailgate  32  of the bed  22 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, pickup truck beds  22  typically come in several configurations, most common, rectangular and trapezoidal. Some newer truck models have a width at the forward end of the bed  22  which is wider than the rearward end of the bed, with the width gradually tapering from the forward end to the rearward end. This configuration is shown in FIG.  2 . Panels  12 ,  14 , and  16  are retained in position on truck bed  22  by channels  18  and  20  mounted on the upper edges of side panels  26  and  28  respectively. Channels  18  and  20  extend continuously from tailgate  32  to forward panel  30 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the upper edge of each truck bed side panel  26  and  28  has a horizontally oriented inwardly directed flange  26   a  and  28   a  respectively. Each channel  18  and  20  is generally I-shaped in cross-section, with a central web  18   a  and  20   a  respectively forming the back of opposing outward and inward receiver channels  18   b  and  18   c  respectively, and  20   b  and  20   c  respectively. The outward receiver channels  18   b  and  20   b  will snugly grip the panel flanges  26   a  and  28   a  respectively, while inward channels  18   c  and  20   c  will slidably receive the side edges of panels  12 ,  14 , and  16  therebetween. Weather stripping or similar material may be applied within outward receiving channels  18   b  and  20   b  to prevent scratches or marring of the panel flanges  26   a  and  28   a  upon mounting of channels  18  and  20  thereon. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, panels  12 ,  14 , and  16  are preferably formed of PVC or similar material, and may include a hollow box-like interior to reduce weight. Forward panel  12  includes forward and rearward edges  12   a  and  12   b , and opposing side edges  12   c  and  12   d , tapering gradually from a greater width at forward edge  12   a  to a narrower width at rearward edge  12   b , to thereby form a trapezoidal shape. 
     Panel  14  is also trapezoidal in shape with parallel forward and rearward edges  14   a  and  14   b , and tapered side edges  14   c  and  14   d . The rearward edge  12   b  of forward panel  12  is pivotally connected to the forward edge  14   a  of panel  14 , with a hinge  34 . Hinge  34  permits panel  12  to act as a pivotable door, which may be opened to access the interior of the truck bed, once cover  10  is installed, as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Referring once again to FIG. 5, it can be seen that a portion of the upper legs of each inward receiving channel  18   c  and  20   c  are cut away at the forward end of channels  18  and  20 , to permit the pivotal movement of forward panel  12  upwardly out of the inward receiving channels  18   c  and  20   c . This opening at the forward end of channels  18  and  20  is designated generally at  18   d  and  20   d  in FIG. 5, and is a length substantially equal to the lengths of forward and middle panels  12  and  14 , as measured between their forward and rearward edges. 
     Because of the trapezoidal shape of the truck bed, the width of forward and middle panels  12  and  14  is greater than the distance between the rearward ends of channels  18  and  20 , thereby preventing slidable installation of forward and middle panels  12  and  14  from the rearward end. Openings  18   d  and  20   d  in the fore ends of channels  18  and  20  permit installation of panels  12  and  14 , as follows. Initially, panel  12  is pivoted to an “open” position stacked on top of panel  14 . The length of openings  18   d  and  20   d  then permits middle panel  14  to be lowered downwardly into inward receiving channels  18   c  and  18   d , as shown by arrows  36 . The combination of panels  12  and  14  may then be slid rearwardly with panel  14  journaled within inward receiving channels  18   c  and  20   c , and panel  12  sliding on top of channels  18  and  20 . Once hinge  34  contacts the rearward end of openings  18   d  and  20   d , forward panel  12  may be pivoted to a closed position. 
     A transverse connecting channel  38  has a generally I-shaped cross-section, to form a forward receiving channel  38   a  and a rearward receiving channel  38   b . Connecting channel  38  has a length which permits slidable insertion between the rearward ends of channels  18  and  20 . Connecting channel  38  is then slid forwardly within channels  18  and  20  until the forward receiving channel  38   a  engages the rearward edge  14   b  of middle panel  14 . Rectangular shaped rearward panel  16  is then slid forwardly into channels  18  and  20  into engagement within rearward receiving channel  38   b  of connecting channel  38 . A weather strip, or compressible seal  40  may then be mounted between channels  18  and  20  rearwardly of rearward panel  16 , so as to engage the tailgate  32 , as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Referring once again to FIGS. 2 and 3, forward panel  12  has a handle  42  thereon to permit the consumer to pivot forward panel  12  between the open and closed positions. Preferably, handle  42  is connected to a lock mechanism  44  to permit the forward panel  12  to be locked in a closed position. Lock mechanism  44  includes a lock cylinder  46  extending through panel  12  to the lower face thereof, and connected to a link  48 . Link  48  has a pair of opposingly extending arms  50  and  52 , pivotally connected to each end of link  48 . Rotation of the lock in lock cylinder  46  will rotate link  48  and extend arms  50  and  52  into the space between the forward stake pockets  54  and  56  and the truck bed forward panel  30 . This will prevent rearward movement of panels  12  and  14  in channels  18  and  20 . In addition, the ends of arms  50  and  52  will extend under channels  18  and  20  and the side panel flanges  26   a  and  28   a , to prevent opening of forward panel  12 . 
     It can be seen that cover  10  may be quickly and easily installed on the bed of a pickup truck without bolting any portion of the cover  10  to the truck itself. In addition, because of the pivotal connection of front panel  12  to middle panel  14 , the consumer may access the forward end of the pickup bed without removing either the middle or rearward panels  14  and  16 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, a second embodiment of the truck bed cover is designated generally at  110 , and is designed for uses on trucks having a rectangular truck bed, rather than the trapezoidal truck bed of the first embodiment. Because the truck bed is rectangular, the distance between channels  118  and  120  will be equal along their entire length. This in turn permits each panel  112 ,  114 , and  116  to slide into position from the rearward ends of channels  118  and  120 . 
     The forward panel  112  of truck bed cover  110  is preferably formed with a rectangular frame  158  with a door  160  pivotally mounted therein. A lock mechanism  162  is operable to selectively lock the door closed, by movement of a pair of tabs  164  under frame  158 . 
     A second transverse connecting channel  138 , with a generally I-shaped cross-section, interconnects the forward end middle panels  112  and  114 , in the same fashion as the other connecting channel interconnects middle panel  114  with rearward panel  116 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the invention is designated generally at  210 , and differs from the second embodiment  110 , shown in FIG. 6, only in the use of channels  218  and  220  which are formed integrally with a bed liner  266 . The panels  112 ,  114 , and  116 , and connecting channels  138 , of the second embodiment  110  would be identical, and could be installed within channels  218  and  220  of bed cover  210  in the same fashion as with the second embodiment. 
     Whereas the invention has been shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications, substitutions and additions may be made which are within the intended broad scope of the appended claims.