Retractable canopy assemblies and pickup trucks having the same

A canopy assembly includes a truck bed and a pair of retractable canopies. The truck bed includes a floor and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. Each of the pair of sidewalls includes an exterior wall, an opposite interior wall, and an elongated cavity positioned between the exterior wall and the interior wall of each of the pair of sidewalls. The pair of retractable canopies are movable between a stored and use positions. In the stored position, each of the retractable canopies are positioned within the elongated cavity defined in each of the pair of sidewalls. In the use position, each of the pair of retractable canopies are positioned to extended at least partially outside of the elongated cavity of each of the pair of sidewalls and extend beyond the exterior wall of the sidewalls in a vehicle lateral direction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification generally relates to pickup truck beds and, more specifically, to truck bed retractable canopy assemblies for pickup trucks.

BACKGROUND

Portable canopy assemblies are known. These portable canopy assemblies are generally standalone requiring a pole at each corner to support the canopy. The poles may be anchored into the ground and thus require to be spaced apart from other objects. Further, the portable canopy assemblies are cumbersome to store when not in use and are time consuming to erect.

Accordingly, there is a need for retractable canopy assemblies that are integrated with the truck bed eliminating the need for remote storage, time to erect, and require less space when erected.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, a canopy assembly is provided. The canopy assembly includes a truck bed and a pair of retractable canopies. The truck bed includes a floor and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. Each of the pair of sidewalls includes an exterior wall, an opposite interior wall, and an elongated cavity positioned between the exterior wall and the interior wall of each of the pair of sidewalls. The pair of retractable canopies are movable between a stored position and a use position. In the stored position, each of the retractable canopies are positioned within the elongated cavity defined in each of the pair of sidewalls. In the use position, each of the pair of retractable canopies are positioned to extend at least partially outside of the elongated cavity of each of the pair of sidewalls and extend beyond the exterior wall of the respective sidewalls in a vehicle lateral direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Pickup trucks according to the present specification include a passenger cabin and a truck bed located rearward of the passenger cabin. The truck bed is included in a retractable canopy assembly utilized to provide shade to an adjacent area of the truck bed. The truck bed includes a floor and a pair of sidewalls. Each of the pair of sidewalls has an exterior wall and an opposite interior wall. The sidewalls each have an upper end that extends between the exterior wall and the interior wall. A lid is movably coupled to the upper end of each of the pair of sidewalls. The lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. A lid actuator may be coupled to each lid to move the lid between the open and closed positions. The exterior wall of each of the sidewalls of the truck bed includes an inner surface and an opposite outer surface, and the interior wall of each of the sidewalls of the truck bed includes an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. An elongated cavity is defined between the inner surface of the interior wall and the inner surface of the exterior wall of each of the sidewalls.

The retractable canopy assembly is movable between a stored position and a use position. The retractable canopy assembly also includes a pair of lower legs, a pair of extendable legs, a canopy, and a foldable leg. Each retractable canopy assembly is received within each of the elongated cavities when in the stored position. Each extendable leg is linearly movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The canopy is movable between a rolled position and an unrolled position. The foldable leg is movable between a folded position and an unfolded position. In the stored position, the extendable leg is in the retracted position, the canopy is in the rolled position and the foldable leg is in the folded position. In the use position, the extendable leg is in the extended position, the canopy is in the unrolled position and the foldable leg is in the unfolded position.

The extendable legs extend at least partially outside the elongated cavities, beyond the upper ends when in the extended position. As the retractable canopy assemblies are stored within the sidewalls of the truck bed when in the retracted position, there is no longer a need to store canopy assemblies remotely and are readily available to provide shade to adjacent areas of the truck bed upon movement into the use position.

In some embodiments, the retractable canopy assembly may include an actuator provided for each of the pair of extendable legs. The actuators are actuated to move the pair of extendable legs between the retracted position and the extended position. The actuators may be actuated by a switch located on the pickup truck or by a remote device such as a key fob, smartphone or another mobile computer device.

Various embodiments of a retractable canopy assembly and pickup trucks having such canopy assemblies will be described in more detail herein.

As used herein, the term “vehicle longitudinal direction” refers to the forward-rearward direction of the pickup truck (i.e., in the +/−vehicle X direction depicted inFIG. 1). The term “vehicle lateral direction” refers to the cross-pickup truck direction (i.e., in the +/−vehicle Y direction depicted inFIG. 1), and is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction. The term “vehicle vertical direction” refers to the upward-downward direction of the pickup truck (i.e., in the +/−vehicle Z-direction depicted inFIG. 1). As used herein, “upper” and “above” are defined as the positive Z direction of the coordinate axis shown in the drawings. “Lower” and “below” are defined as the negative Z direction of the coordinate axis shown in the drawings.

Referring toFIG. 1, the terms “outboard” or “outward” as used herein refers to the relative location of a component in direction with respect to a pickup truck centerline. The term “inboard” or “inward” as used herein refers to the relative location of a component in direction with respect to the pickup truck centerline. Because the pickup truck structures may be generally symmetrical about the pickup truck centerline, the direction to which use of terms “inboard,” “inward,” “outboard” and “outward” may be mirrored about the pickup truck centerline13when evaluating components positioned along opposite sides of the pickup truck10.

Referring initially toFIGS. 1-3, a pickup truck is generally illustrated at10. The pickup truck10includes a passenger cabin12, a truck bed14, and a pair of retractable canopy assemblies16,16′. It should be appreciated that each retractable canopy assembly16,16′ are a mirror image of each other with the retractable canopy assembly16being on a left side of the truck bed14and the retractable canopy assembly16′ being on the right side of the truck bed14. As such, like reference numerals will be used to describe the features between the retractable canopy assembly16and the retractable canopy assembly16′ with the reference numeral of the retractable canopy assembly16′ further including a “′” identification.

The truck bed14includes a floor18, a pair of spaced apart sidewalls20A,20B, a front wall22, and a rear wall24. The floor18, the sidewalls20A,20B, the front wall22, and the rear wall24define a storage area26of the truck bed14. The sidewalls20A,20B extend parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction. Each sidewall20A,20B includes a front end28A,28B and an opposite rear end30A,30B. The front wall22extends between the front ends28A,28B of the sidewalls20A,20B. The rear wall24extends between the rear ends30A,30B of the sidewalls20A,20B.

In some embodiments, it is appreciated, that the rear wall24is pivotally connected to the sidewalls20A,20B as a tailgate for movement between a closed position and an open position (not shown). In the closed position, the rear wall24extends parallel to the vehicle vertical direction. In the open position, the rear wall24extends parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, the sidewalls20A,20B include an exterior wall32A,32B and an opposite interior wall34A,34B. The exterior walls32A,32B include an outer surface36A,36B and an opposite inner surface38A,38B. The interior walls34A,34B include an outer surface40A,40B and an opposite inner surface42A,42B. The inner surfaces38A,38B of the exterior walls32A,32B face the inner surfaces42A,42B of the interior walls34A,34B. The outer surfaces36A,36B of the exterior walls32A,32B face outwardly in the vehicle lateral direction. The outer surfaces40A,40B of the interior walls34A,34B face inwardly in the vehicle lateral direction and define a portion of the storage area26of the truck bed14.

The sidewalls20A,20B include upper ends44A,44B and opposite lower ends46A,46B. The lower ends46A,46B are positioned closer to the floor18of the truck bed14than the upper ends44A,44B. The sidewalls20A,20B include elongated cavities48A,48B that are defined between the inner surfaces38A,38B of the exterior walls32A,32B and the inner surfaces42A,42B of the interior walls34A,34B. The elongated direction of the elongated cavities48A,48B extends parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction. The elongated cavities48A,48B extend from the upper ends44A,44B towards the lower ends46A,46B of the sidewalls20A,20B. The upper ends44A,44B of the sidewalls20A,20B include elongated openings50A,50B that permit access to the elongated cavities48A,48B.

The upper ends44A,44B of the sidewalls20A,20B include lids52A,52B. The hinges54A,54B are positioned on an inward side in the vehicle lateral direction with respect to the elongated openings50A,50B. As will be described in greater detail below, the lids52A,52B are moveable between a closed position, as shown inFIG. 1and an open position, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown inFIG. 1, the lids52A,52B are in the closed position such that the lids52A,52B extend outwardly in the vehicle lateral direction to cover the elongated openings50A,50B so as to inhibit access of the elongated cavities48A,48B from the elongated openings50A,50B. It is appreciated, of course, that the hinges54A,54B may be positioned on an outward side in the vehicle lateral direction with respect to the elongated openings50A,50B, and that in the closed position the lids52A,52B extend inwardly in the vehicle lateral direction to cover the elongated openings50A,50B so as to inhibit access of the elongated cavities48A,48B from the elongated openings50A,50B.

Further, as shown inFIG. 3, the lids52A,52B are in the open position such that the lids52A,52B extend upward in the vehicle vertical direction to uncover the elongated openings50A,50B so as to permit access of the elongated cavities48A,48B through the elongated openings50A,50B.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, in embodiments, each of the lids52A,52B may be moved between the open and closed positions by lid actuators84A,84B. The lid actuators84A,84B include a lid actuator arm86A,86B. In some embodiments, the lid actuators84A,84B are positioned within the elongated cavities48A,48B. In other embodiments, the lid actuators84A,84B are positioned along the outer surface40A,40B of the interior walls34A,34B. The lid actuators84A,84B may be connected to the upper ends44A,44B of the sidewalls20A,20B. Each lid actuator arm86A,86B has one end connected to a portion of the lid52A,52B and an opposite end connected to the lid actuator84A,84B. The lid actuators84A,84B are optionally mechanical actuators, hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators, and/or electric actuators. In some embodiments, a pair of lid actuators84A are provided within the elongated cavity48A to move the lid52A between the open position and the closed position and a pair of lid actuators84B are provided within the elongated cavity48B to move the lid52B between the open position and the closed position.

The lid actuators84A,84B may be linear actuators that rotate the lid via the hinge54A,54B between the closed position and the open position upon movement of the lid actuator arm86A,86B from an unactuated state to an actuated state.

In some embodiments, the lid actuators84A,84B are actuated such that the lid actuator arms86A,86B are moved between the unactuated state and the actuated state by triggering an input switches88A,88B. The input switches88A,88B are electronically connected to the lid actuators84A,84B, by a wired or a wireless connection. In some embodiments, the input switches88A,88B are positioned on an exterior of the pickup truck10. For example, the input switch88A is optionally positioned on the exterior wall32A of the sidewall20A, the rear wall24, the interior wall34A of the sidewall20A as shown inFIGS. 1-3, or the input switch88A is positioned on the floor18of the truck bed14. Further, the input switch88B is optionally positioned on the exterior wall32B of the sidewall20B, the rear wall24, the interior wall34B of the sidewall20B as shown inFIGS. 1-3, or the input switch88B is positioned on the floor18of the truck bed14. In some embodiments, a plurality of input switches88may be provided for the pickup truck10including in or on the truck bed14or in the passenger cabin12.

It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the input switch88A controls the retractable canopy assembly16and the input switch88B controls the retractable canopy assembly16′. That is, upon an actuation of the input switch88A, the lid actuator84A is actuated such that the lid actuator arm86A is moved between the unactuated state and the actuated state and the lid52A is moved between the closed position and the open position. Further, upon an actuation of the input switch88B, the lid actuator84B is actuated such that the lid actuator arm86B is moved between the unactuated state and the actuated state and the lid52B is moved between the closed position and the open position. In other embodiments, upon an actuation of either input switches88A,88B, the lid actuators84A,84B are actuated such that the lid actuator arms86A,86B are moved between the unactuated state and the actuated state and the lids52A,52B are moved between the closed position and the open position. In some other embodiments, the lid actuators84A,84B are actuated such that that the lid actuator arms86A,86B are moved between the unactuated state and the actuated state using a remote device82. For example, the remote device82is optionally a key fob, a smartphone, or a mobile device. The remote device82transmits a wireless signal to actuate the lid actuators84A,84B, to move the lid actuator arms86A,86B between the unactuated state and the actuated state.

Still referring toFIGS. 1-3, the retractable canopy assembly16further includes a pair of lower legs56A,56B, a pair of extendable legs58A,58B, a canopy60, a foldable leg62, and a pair of actuators64A,64B, The canopy60includes a top (distal) surface66A, an opposite bottom (proximate) surface66B as well as a distal edge66C and an opposite proximate edge66D. The canopy60may be made of a flexible material, such as a woven or non-woven fabric, a plastic, and the like. As will be described in greater detail below, the canopy60is movable between a rolled position, as best shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and an unrolled position, as best shown inFIG. 3. In the unrolled position, the canopy60is generally planar shape with a longitudinal direction that extends perpendicular with the vehicle longitudinal direction so to act as a sunshade. Further, in some embodiments, in the unrolled position, the canopy60is generally sized to extend outwardly 100%, 75%, 50% or less °±10% of the length of the truck bed14with respect to the distance between the interior wall34A,34B of the sidewalls20A,20B. Each lower leg56A,56B, may generally include a base portion74A,74B and an opening portion76A,76B opposite of the base portion74A,74B. In embodiments, the base portion74A,74B may be coupled to the floor18. In other embodiments, the base portion74A,74B may be connected to the lower ends46A,46B of the sidewalls20A,20B. The opening portion76A,76B is positioned above the base portion74A,74B in the vehicle vertical direction such that each lower leg56A,56B extends within the elongated cavities48A,48B in the vehicle vertical direction. The opening portion76A,76B is positioned below the upper ends44A,44B in the system vertical direction. In some embodiments, each lower leg56A,56B may generally be cylindrical in shape. In other embodiments, each lower leg56A,56B may be a square shape, rectangular shape, hexagonal shape, and the like. As will be discussed in greater detail below, a distal end78A of each lower leg56A,56B is in communication with the canopy60to raise the canopy60in the vehicle vertical direction and to support the canopy60at the truck bed14.

The foldable leg62includes a distal portion90A and an opposite proximate portion90B. The foldable leg may be a rod, a shaft, and the like, that is capable of moving between a folded position, as best seen inFIG. 2and an extended position, as best seen inFIG. 3. In some embodiments, the foldable leg62pivots from the folded position to the extended positon. As such, in this embodiment, the proximate portion90A is coupled to the distal edge66C of the canopy60while moving between the folded position and the extended position. In the unfolded position, the foldable leg62is extended between the canopy60and ground92to support the distal edge66C of the canopy60. That is distal portion90A supports the distal edge66C of the canopy and the proximate portion90B is in contact with the ground92. In some embodiments, the foldable leg62is a telescoping leg moving between a retracted position and an extended position.

Each of the pair of extendable legs58A,58B includes a distal end78A and an opposite proximate end78B. Each of the pair of extendable legs58A,58B extend from each respective lower leg56A,56B in the vehicle vertical direction. That is, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the extendable legs58A,58B are positioned within the respective lower leg56A,56B via the opening portion76A. In some embodiments, the proximate end78B of the extendable legs58A,58B is positioned within and slidably engages with a portion of the lower legs56A,56B. The distal end78A of each extendable leg58A,58B is generally positioned above the opening portion76A of each respective lower leg56A,56B in the vehicle vertical direction. As will be described in greater detail below, each extendable leg58A,58B moves linearly between a retracted position, as best seen inFIG. 1, and an extended position, as best seen inFIGS. 2-3. As such, in some embodiments, the extendable legs are telescoping legs that are linearly displaced in the lower leg.

In some embodiments, the canopy60includes a roller81is rotatable coupled to the distal end78A of the extendable legs58A,58B such that the roller81rotates, with respect to the extendable legs58A,58B. The roller81extends parallel with the vehicle longitudinal direction. As such, the canopy60is rolled or unrolled around the roller81. It should be appreciated that the canopy60and the roller81may be a retractable sunshade. In some embodiments, the foldable leg62is positioned between at the distal edge66C of the canopy60such that the foldable leg62is contained within the canopy in the rolled position and the foldable leg62is in the folded position and is easily accessible when the canopy60is in the unrolled position.

The actuators64A,64B include an actuator arm70A,70B. In some embodiments, the actuators64A,64B are positioned within the elongated cavities48A,48B. In other embodiments, the actuators64A,64B are positioned beneath the floor18of the truck bed14in the vehicle vertical direction. The actuators64A,64B may be connected to the lower ends46A,46B of the sidewalls20A,20B. Each actuator arm70A,70B has one end connected to proximate end of the extendable legs and an opposite end connected to the actuator64A,64B. The actuators64A,64B are optionally mechanical actuators, hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators, and/or electric actuators.

The actuators64A,64B may be rotatable actuators that linearly displace the extendable legs58A,58B, in the vehicle vertical direction, between the retracted position and an extended position upon movement of the actuator arm70A,70B from an unactuated state to an actuated state.

In some embodiments, the actuators64A,64B are actuated such that the actuator arms70A,70B are moved between the unactuated state and the actuated state by triggering an input switch80. The input switch80is electronically connected to the actuators64A,64B by a wired or a wireless connection. In some embodiments, the input switch80is positioned on an exterior of the pickup truck10. For example, the input switch80is optionally positioned on the exterior wall32A of the sidewall20A, the rear wall24, the interior wall34B of the sidewall20B as shown inFIGS. 1-3, or the input switch80is positioned on the floor18of the truck bed14. In some embodiments, a plurality of input switches80may be provided for the pickup truck10including in or on the truck bed14or in the passenger cabin12.

It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the input switches80,80′,88A,88B may actuate the actuators64A,64B and lid actuators84A,84B to move the retractable canopy assembly16between the stored position and the use position. That is, in some embodiments, upon an actuation of and the input switches80,80′,88A,88B88B, the actuators64A,64B and lid actuators84A,84B may cause the various components described herein to move between the use position and the stored position and/or from the stored position to the use position, as described in greater detail below.

In some other embodiments, the actuators64A,64B are actuated such that that the actuator arms70A,70B are moved between the unactuated state and the actuated state using the remote device82. For example, the remote device82is optionally a key fob, a smartphone, or a mobile device. The remote device82transmits a wireless signal to actuate the actuators64A,64B to move the actuator arms70A,70B between the unactuated state and the actuated state.

Referring toFIG. 1, the canopy60, the foldable leg62, and the extendable legs58A,58B are positioned within the elongated cavities48A,48B when the actuator arms70A,70B are in the unactuated state such that the retractable canopy assembly16is in a stored position. Specifically, the canopy60, the foldable leg62, and the extendable legs58A,58B are all positioned such that they are stored below the upper end44A,44B of the sidewalls20A,20B. As the retractable canopy assembly16(i.e., the canopy60, the foldable leg62, and the extendable legs58A,58B) is in the stored position below the upper ends44A,44B of the sidewalls20A,20B, the lids52A,52B are in the closed position.

Referring toFIG. 2, the extendable legs58A,58B are in the extended position and the actuator arms70A,70B are in the actuated state. It should be appreciated that the actuators64A,64B may move in tandem such that the extendable legs58A,58B move between the retracted position and the extended position together. In the extended position, the extendable legs58A,58B are positioned so as to extend at least partially outside or beyond the elongated cavities48A,48B. The extendable legs58A,58B are positioned such that the distal end78A are positioned above the upper end44A,44B of the sidewalls20A,20B. As the extendable legs58A,58B are in the extended position with the distal end78A positioned above the upper ends44A,44B of the sidewalls20A,20B, the lids52A,52B are in the open position. The foldable leg62is still in the folded positon and the canopy60is still in the rolled positon with the foldable leg62positioned at the distal edge66C of the canopy60such that the retractable canopy assembly16is in an intermediate position between the stored position and the use position.

As discussed above, the actuation of the actuator arms70A,70B from the unactuated state to the actuated state linearly displaces the extendable legs58A,58B from the retracted position towards the extended position. Further, in some embodiments, the lid actuators84A,84B move the lids from the closed position to the open positon before the actuators64A,64B move the extendable legs58A,58B from the retracted position to the extended position. In other embodiments, the movement of the extendable legs58A,58B from the retracted position to the extended position also moves the lids52A,52B from the closed position to the open position as the distal end78A of the extendable legs58A,58B contact the lids52A,52B which are rotated about the hinges54A,54B to the open position. As such, it should be appreciated that in order to deploy the retractable canopy assembly16from the stored position to the deployed position, each respective lid52A,52B is moved from the closed position to the open position. It should be appreciated that the lid actuators84A,84B move independent from one another to move each lid52A,52B from the closed position to the open positon.

Now referring toFIG. 3, the retractable canopy assembly16is schematically depicted in the use position. In particular, the respective lid52A,52B is in the open position, the extendable legs58A,58B are in the extended position, the canopy60is in the unrolled positon and the foldable leg62is in the unfolded positon. In the unrolled position, the canopy60is unrolled to extend outwardly in the vehicle lateral direction from the extendable legs58A,58B and the truck bed14beyond the outer surface36A,36B of the exterior walls32A,32B. In the unfolded position, the foldable leg62is extended between the canopy60and the ground92to support the distal edge66C of the canopy60. It should be appreciated that the canopy60may be coplanar with the ground92or obliquely or acutely angled with respect to the ground92.

As such, it should be appreciated that the canopy60is supported by the foldable leg62and the extendable legs58A,58B into a position that is above the upper ends44A,44B of the sidewalls20A,20B in the vehicle vertical direction and extends outwardly beyond the outer surface36A,36B of the exterior walls32A,32B of the respective sidewalls20A,20B. As such, this arrangement provides for shade in areas adjacent to the truck bed14. That is, this arrangement provides for shade, protection from the weather, and the like in areas that are beyond the outer surface36A,36B of the exterior walls32A,32B of the respective sidewalls20A,20B of the truck bed14. Further, this arrangement requires less space to position the canopy since the proximate edge66D is supported by the extendable legs58A,58B positioned extending through the sidewalls20A,20B of the truck bed14and the distal edge66C of the canopy60is supported by the foldable leg62.

It should be appreciated that the retractable canopy assembly16and the retractable canopy assembly16′ may be independently operable. That is, the retractable canopy assembly16may be in the use portion while the retractable canopy assembly16′ is in the storage position, or vice versa. Further, both the retractable canopy assembly16and the retractable canopy assembly16′ may be in the storage positon simultaneously, in the use position simultaneously, or a plurality of positions there between simultaneously.

It should be appreciated that the retractable canopy assembly is integrated with the truck bed eliminating the need for remote storage, reducing the time and space needed to erect the retractable canopy assembly, and when erected, less space is needed.