Abstract:
A truck bed camper shell and hard tonneau cover device is provided which is activated for movement between a raised truck bed camper shell position and a lowered hard tonneau cover position by remote activation of actuators such as pneumatics or hydraulic cylinders or a screw drive mechanism.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
   This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/588,476 filed Jul. 16, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to pickup truck bed covers and, more particularly, to such a cover which is convertible between a camper type shell and a hard tonneau type cover. 
   The beds of pickup trucks enable a wide variety of items to be hauled by such trucks. One problem with pickup beds is their open nature which makes items carried vulnerable to weather damage, theft, or loss by falling or being blown out of the bed. Earlier soft tonneau covers snapped onto snap fasteners mounted on top of the side walls, a front end wall, and the tailgate and provided a cover for the bed which could be opened as needed to place articles into the bed or take them out. More recently, so-called hard tonneau covers have been developed which incorporate mechanisms that allow the cover to tilt up about the front end to provide access to the bed. Some hard tonneau covers are powered by electrical motors, hydraulic cylinders, or pneumatic cylinders to lift and lower the rear end of the cover. 
   In addition to tonneau covers, various types of shells have been provided for pickup truck beds. Full sized pickup bed camper units are often taller than the pickup cab and wider and longer than the pickup bed and are enclosed by walls on all sides. In contrast, shells, or camper shells, usually are formed of side walls, a front end wall, and a rear hatch, all with windows, and a roof. The rear hatch can be pivoted open or locked closed. Usually, shells have about the same height as the cab and about the same width and length as the pickup bed. Shells allow a person to climb completely into the covered bed and are sometimes used as sleeping quarters when camping. Mechanisms have been developed to tilt shells up about the front end in a manner similar to hard tonneau covers. 
   In order to combine the advantages of tonneau covers and shells, arrangements have been developed which provide for conversion between a tonneau configuration and a shell configuration. Such an arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0061351 A1. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a pickup truck bed cover mechanism which is convertible between a camper shell and a hard tonneau cover. The cover mechanism includes opposite side panels, a rear hatch, and a roof which are interconnected and provided with actuator components in such a manner as to enable the side panels and rear hatch to be retracted inwardly thereby lowering the roof to form a hard tonneau cover for the pickup bed. The side panels and the rear hatch may be provided with transparent or tinted window panes. The roof panel may also be provided with a window. In a preferred embodiment, a pickup cab extension frame is positioned at the front end of the bed and provided with a transparent panel for rearward visibility. Inner surfaces of the extension frame have weather seals which are engaged by the side panels and roof when they are extended to the shell configuration. The mechanism could alternatively incorporate a front panel which is retracted in a manner similar to the rear hatch. 
   The mechanism includes a U-shaped base frame formed by a front end member and a pair of transversely spaced side members which are secured to the upper ends of the pickup bed side walls. The side panels of the cover are connected to the side members by hinges. Extendible motors such as hydraulic cylinders are pivotally connected between extensions depending from the side members and upper ends of the cover side panels. The roof panel has front and rear sets of left and right transverse guide rails and a center guide rail. Each side panel has a front guide follower and a rear guide follower, which are slidingly engaged respectively with an associated pair of a front and rear transverse guide rails and pivotally connected to the associated side panel. 
   The center guide rail is part of a centralizing or centering linkage assembly for the cover mechanism as a whole to maintain it in a desired lateral alignment with the pickup bed. The centering mechanism includes pairs of front centering links and rear centering links. The front centering links are pivotally connected to a front centering slide engaged with the center guide rail and to the left and right front guide followers. Similarly, the rear centering links are pivotally connected to a rear centering slide engaged with the center guide rail and to left and right rear guide followers. 
   The rear hatch is positioned in a flat rear hatch frame which is hinged at its upper end near the rear edge of the roof panel. A hydraulic cylinder, or a left and right pair, is pivotally connected between the hatch frame and the roof panel and operable to pivot the hatch frame up just below the lower surface of the roof panel when the cover mechanism assumes the tonneau configuration. The rear hatch is pivotally connected to the hatch frame and has a lock mechanism so that it can be opened and closed and also locked. 
   From the shell configuration, the cover mechanism can be retracted to the tonneau configuration. First, the rear hatch frame is retracted into parallel relation below the roof panel. The side panel cylinders are retracted to pivot the side panels about the side frame members, down and inwardly. The guide followers ride along the transverse guide rails, pulling the roof panel down toward the pickup bed. The centering mechanism retains the cover mechanism centered over the bed. Once the cover mechanism has been completely retracted, access to the pickup bed can be gained by use of the pickup tailgate. 
   From the tonneau configuration, the cover mechanism can be extended to the shell configuration by reversing the steps described above. Specifically, the side panel cylinders are extended to pivot the side panels up and outwardly, thereby raising the roof panel by way of the transverse guide rails and followers. When the roof panel has been fully raised, the rear hatch frame is lowered into place above the tailgate. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best modes in which the applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary side perspective view of a pickup truck incorporating a convertible pickup truck bed cover mechanism which embodies the present invention, with the cover mechanism shown in a retracted tonneau configuration. 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  and shows the cover mechanism in an extended shell configuration. 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside of a left side panel and illustrates details of a hydraulic actuator of the mechanism. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a cab extender of the cover mechanism which incorporates a fixed window pane. 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of a roof panel of the cover mechanism and illustrates details of a centering linkage of the mechanism. 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of the inside of a right side panel and shows details of a transverse guide rail and follower of the mechanism. 
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the cover mechanism and illustrates the mechanism in a stage of conversion somewhat below the fully extended shell configuration. 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  and illustrates the cover mechanism in a stage of conversion somewhat above the fully retracted tonneau configuration. 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary diagrammatic rear elevational view of the cover mechanism and illustrates details of a rear hatch of the mechanism. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross section view showing the mounting of the cab extension or the forward cowling onto the side rail. 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of members of a mounting frame of the convertible pickup bed cover with the frame members shown pivoted to a position below the shell configuration. 
       FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 11  and shows the frame members pivoted to the tonneau configuration. 
       FIG. 13  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of actuating mechanisms which can be used with the rear side wall for raising and lowering of the rear side wall. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for patent claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
   Referring to the figures in more detail, the reference numeral  1  generally designates a convertible pickup truck bed cover mechanism which embodies the present invention. The cover mechanism  1  generally includes a mounting frame  3  including a pickup cab extension  5 , a pair of transversely spaced side panels  7 , a roof panel  9 , and a rear hatch assembly  11  ( FIG. 9 ). The side panels  7  and rear hatch assembly  11  are interconnected to the roof panel  9  in such a manner that the cover mechanism  1  can converted between a shell configuration ( FIG. 1 ) and a tonneau configuration ( FIG. 2 ). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the mounting frame  3  includes side frame members  15  which extend rearward from the cab extension  5  to form a U-shaped frame. The side members  15  are parallel and spaced apart to engage upper edges for the side walls  17  of a bed  18  of a pickup truck  19 . The side members  15  are preferably fastened to the side walls  17 , as by bolts, clamps, or the like. The cab extension  5  is a vertically oriented U-shaped framework with a height comparable to the height of the cab  20  of the pickup  19 . The illustrated cab extension  5  frames a front shell window  22  ( FIG. 4 ), and internal surfaces of the cab extension  5  are provided with weather seals (not shown). The weather seals are engaged by the roof panel  9  and side panels  7  in the shell configuration of the cover mechanism  1  for weatherproofing when in the shell configuration. The front window  22  is fixed in place within the cab extension  5 . Alternatively, a front window for the cover mechanism could be pivotally connected to the roof panel  9  and retracted in a manner similar to the rear hatch assembly  11 , as will be described below. The so-called cab extension  5  does not actually extend or expand the cab  20  of the truck  19 . It merely has the appearance of an extension of the cab  20 . 
   The side panels  7  are pivotally connected to the side members  15  by hinges (not shown) so that the side panels  7  can pivot from a somewhat vertical orientation in the shell configuration to substantially horizontal orientation in the tonneau configuration. Each of the side members  15  is provided with a depending extension  25  ( FIG. 3 ) to which a hydraulic side panel actuating cylinder  27  is pivotally connected. An opposite end of the cylinder  27  is pivotally connected to the side panel  7 . Retraction of the cylinders  27  pivots the side panels  7  down and toward the center of the bed  18 , while extension of the cylinders  27  pivots the side panels  7  up and away from the center of the bed  18 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , the roof panel  9  is provided with front and rear sets of left and right transversely oriented guide rails  30 . Each of the side panels  7  has front and rear guide followers  32  ( FIG. 6 ) which are pivotally connected to their side panels  7  and which slidingly engage a respective one of the guide rails  30 . Additionally, the roof panel  9  includes a centering linkage assembly  35  including a centrally positioned centering guide rail  37  which extends in a front-to-back, or longitudinal, orientation. Front and rear centering slides  39  slidingly engage the rail  37 . Front and rear sets of left and right pairs of centering links  41  are pivotally connected respectively between the side panels  7 , for example to the guide followers  32 , and associated ones of the centering slides  39 . 
   When the side panels  7  are pivoted downward and inward by the cylinders  27 , the followers  32  slide along the rails  30  and draw the roof panel  9  down toward the tonneau configuration. Conversely, pivoting the side panels  7  upward and outward causes the roof panel  9  to be raised toward the shell configuration. The components of the centering linkage assembly  35  cooperate to retain the roof panel  9  centered over the pickup bed  18  during conversion of the cover mechanism  1  between its shell and tonneau configurations.  FIG. 7  illustrates the cover mechanism  1  at a stage of conversion just below the fully raised shell configuration.  FIG. 8  illustrates the mechanism  1  at a stage of conversion just above the fully lowered tonneau configuration. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the rear hatch assembly  11  includes a rear hatch frame  45  which is pivotally connected to the roof panel  9 , as by internal hinge members  47 , which enable the frame  45  to pivot inwardly toward the front of the pickup truck  19 . Hatch cylinders  49 , such as hydraulic cylinders, are pivotally connected between the rear hatch frame  45  and the roof panel  9  and enable the frame  45  to be pivoted between an extended vertical position above a tailgate  51  of the truck  19  in the shell configuration of the cover mechanism  1  and a retracted horizontal position beneath the roof panel  9  in the tonneau configuration. Preferably, the hatch cylinders  49  and side panel cylinders  27  are coordinated in such a manner that the rear hatch frame  45  is raised to its horizontal position prior to retraction of the side panels  7  for conversion to the tonneau configuration and lowered to the vertical position after the side panels  7  have been extended to the shell configuration. A rear hatch panel  53  is pivotally connected to the rear hatch frame  45  by hinge members  55  and may be opened to the rear of the truck  19  or locked in a closed position. 
   The side panels  7  and rear hatch panel  53  are preferably provided with transparent or tinted window panes (not shown). Similarly, the roof panel  9  may be provided with a transparent or tinted pane to illuminate the interior of the bed in either configuration of the cover mechanism  1  and to provide increased driving visibility in the shell configuration of the mechanism  1 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the construction of the side rail is shown. The side rail  60  is to be mounted on the top edge of the left and right side walls of the truck bed side walls to permit a structure to seal the connection between the cover mechanism of the present invention and the existing truck side walls, and also to provide a bearing or pivot  62  which can receive the cover side wall connecting rail shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  to allow pivoting movement of the cover side walls or panels  7  with respect to the existing truck bed side walls  17 . Side rail  60  rests atop truck bed side walls  17  by placing bottom horizontal edge  66  of side rail  60  onto the top surface of truck bed side wall  17 . While a sealing compound may be used between bottom horizontal edge  66  and truck bed side wall  17 , in a preferred embodiment, the material used to construct side rail  60 , which may be a plastic or metal with a plastic bearing pad, may be sufficiently valuable as to provide a seal between truck bed side wall  17  and bottom horizontal edge  66 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , cover side wall connecting rail  70  is shown in perspective view. Flange  72  of cover side wall connecting rail  70  interconnects with the cover side wall structure  7 , and socket rail  74  connects with pivot or ball rail  62  of side rail  60  to provide pivoting movement between the cover side wall and the side rail  60  connected to truck bed side walls  17 . Cover side wall connecting rail  70  is shown in cross section view in  FIG. 13  wherein socket rail  74  may be better appreciated. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 12 , the interconnection between side rail  60  and cover side wall connecting rail  70  is shown. It will be appreciated that movement of socket rail  74  in the direction shown by arrow A will correspond to the raising and lowering positions or the movement of the cover side wall  7  between a raised position wherein socket rail  74  is moved in the direction of arrow A toward end A 1  of arrow A. When it is desired that cover side wall  7  which is attached to socket rail  74  be placed in the lowered or collapsed position to place cover or roof panel  9  in a lowered position, socket rail  74  will be moved along arrow A toward position A 2 , thereby placing cover side walls in a lowered position.  FIGS. 11 and 12  shows a cross section view of the interconnection between side rail  60  and cover side wall connecting rail  70 . 
     FIG. 13  shows a general perspective view in exploded form of the present invention and showing in particular an alternative embodiment of the application of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders  80  to end wall  82 . It will be appreciated that cylinders  80  may be manual pneumatic cylinders which are used to support end wall  82 , or these may be cylinders which are actuated by the same mechanism as the cover side walls thus providing remotely actuated raising and lowering of end panel  82 . The end wall  82  may be constructed in a manner similar to the rear hatch assembly  11 , including a frame supporting a hatch member which can be manually opened and closed. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the interconnection between cab extension or cowling  5  and side rail  60  is shown. In  FIG. 10 , the manner in which cab extension  5  rests atop side rail  60  is shown with cab extension flanges  84  extending downwardly to cover the outside edges of side rail  60  and to meet with truck bed side wall  17 . 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown. For example, while the cylinders  27  and  49  are described as hydraulic cylinders, they could alternatively be pneumatic cylinders or replaced entirely by electrical motors, jackscrews, or other actuator devices which would occur to one skilled in the art. 
   Certain changes may be made in embodying the above invention and in the construction thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not meant in a limiting sense. 
   Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the inventive convertible camper shell and hard tonneau is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.