# Patent

## Title
Tonneau cover

## Abstract

A tonneau cover assembly for a truck having a bed and a pair of upstanding sidewalls generally includes a panel and a mechanism for enabling movement of the panel between the first position abutting the bed and a second position generally level with tops of the upstanding sidewalls.

## Background
The present application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/098,567, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,458, filed on Apr. 7, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,458, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/580,455, filed on Oct. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,089, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/746,676 filed May 8, 2006. These applications are to be incorporated herewith in their entirety by this specific reference thereto.


BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present invention generally relates to coverings for truck beds and IS more particularly directed to a tonneau cover enabling full use of a truck bed.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any number of covers has been developed for pickup trucks. Fabric covers secured to truck sidewalls above the bed enable full use of the bed when removed. However, it provides no protection against unauthorized entry.
Accordingly, a great number of rigid covers have been developed any member of which include folding and sliding panels. Other rigid covers may be hinged at a forward end, or front wall of a pickup truck, which provides for easy access to transported items. However, the problem with these tops lies in the fact that the truck bed cannot be used as a truck bed for carrying large loads which would extend above the truck bed level. These tops must be physically removed and stored while the truck is used conventionally for carrying large loads.
Other folding and sliding tops provide access to only a part of the bed space and thus limit the carrying capacity of the truck when in a folded or rolled position.
The present invention provides the benefits of the protection of a tonneau cover while at the same time enabling full use of the truck bed without having to disassemble and store the tonneau cover.
SUMMARY
A tonneau cover assembly in accordance with the present invention for a truck having a bed and a pair of upstanding sidewalls extending between a front wall and a tailgate generally includes a panel and a mechanism for enabling movement of the panel between a first position abutting the bed and a second position level with tops of the upstanding sidewalls. In this manner, when the panel is abutting the bed the truck may be used in a conventional manner for carrying loads that may extend above the truck bed level. Movement of the panel to the second position level with tops of the upstanding sidewalls enables function as a conventional rigid tonneau cover.
Preferably, the panel has a perimeter conforming to a perimeter of the bed and when utilized with a truck bed including opposing wheel well covers, the panel may include a pair of moveable flaps for accommodating movement of the panel to the first position abutting the bed.
In the second position, the flaps cover tops of the wheel well covers.
More particularly, the assembly includes a top frame which is sized and configured for resting sidewall and tops and hinged at the front wall for enabling pivotal movement at the front wall. The mechanism depends from the top frame and accordingly the entire panel and mechanism is pivotally moveable to an open position similar to conventional openable rigid tonneau covers.
Still more particularly, the mechanism includes articulating arms for enabling generally vertical movement of the panel. This feature enables movement of the panel between the first position abutting the bed and the second position in a plane with the sidewall tops without hindrance by the stationary wheel well covers.
The articulating arms are pivotally attached to depending brackets fixed to the top frame and said panel. Connecting arms disposed between and pivotally attached between pairs of articulated arms may be provided for facilitating movement of the panel.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tonneau cover assembly in accordance with the present invention showing a panel disposed in a first abutting position with a bed of a truck, thereby enabling full use of the cargo area, along with a mechanism for enabling movement of the panel between the first abutting position and a second position level with tops of upstanding sidewalls;
FIG. 2 illustrates the panel after movement by the mechanism to the second position level with tops of the truck sidewalls;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom of the panel further illustrating the mechanism for enabling movement of the panel along with a top frame sized for resting atop the sidewall tops, articulating arms and brackets supporting the arms depending from the top frame;
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating the panel in an abutting relationship with a truck bed along with articulating arms interconnected with the top frame depending brackets and connecting arms disposed between and pivotally attached between pairs of articulating arms;
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 4 illustrating the panel in a midway position;
FIG. 6 is a figure similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrating the top being raised to the second position parallel to sidewall tops;
FIG. 7 illustrates the panel and top frame in an open position exposing the truck bed through the use of a hinge disposed at the truck bed front wall;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative moveable flap enabling passage of the panel part wheel well covers, not shown, the flap being laterally moveable;
FIG. 9 shows the moveable flap in a closed position and flush with the panel; and
FIG. 10 shows the moveable flap in an open position enabling passing of the wheel well cover by the panel.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a tonneau cover assembly 10 suitable for installation on the truck 14, the truck including a bed 16 and upstanding sidewalls 18, 20 extending between a front wall 24 and a tailgate 26.
The tonneau cover assembly 10 generally includes a panel 30 which is, as hereinafter described, moveable between a first position abutting the truck bed 16, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and a second position generally level with tops, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
Preferably, the panel 30 includes a perimeter 40 which conforms to a bed perimeter 42. However, it should be appreciated that the panel may be of any configuration or shape abuttable with the truck bed 16 for enabling use of the truck for carrying loads (not shown) on top of the panel in the manner of a conventional pickup truck without the panel.
However, with the conforming perimeter 40 when the panel 30 is raised to the second position, as shown in FIG. 2, complete elevated coverage of the truck bed 16 is provided.
Hinged flaps 46, 48 enable passage of the panel past wheel well covers 50, 52 which may include locks (not shown) for preventing access when the panel 30 is in the second position as illustrated in FIG. 2.
A mechanism 70 enables movement of the panel 30 between the first position abutting the bed as shown in FIG. 1 and the second position generally level with tops 34, 36 of the upstanding sidewalls 18, 20 as shown in FIG. 2.
A top frame 74 sized for resting a top the sidewall on tops 34, 36 and front wall 24 supports the mechanism 70 and is hinged 78 at the front wall 24 for enabling the pivotal movement at the front wall 24, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The mechanism 70 depends from the top frame 74 and is removable therewith.
Bracing 82, see FIG. 3, provides for integrity, stability, and strength for the panel 30 in a conventional manner.
The mechanism 70 may include articulating arms 86, 88, two opposing sets being provided (but only one shown for the sake of describing the mechanism 70 in FIGS. 4-7) which enable generally vertical movement from the first position, illustrated in FIG. 4, to the second position, as illustrated in FIG. 6. This enables the panel perimeter 42 clear the wheel well covers 50, 52.
The articulating arms 86, 88, 90, 92 are attached to depending brackets 96, 98, 100, 102 respectively as best seen in FIG. 3. Connecting rods 106, 108 are disposed between and pivotally attached to arm pairs 86, 88 and 90, 92 respectively for coordinating movement of the panel from the first to the second position.
When in the second position, a key lock (not shown) of any suitable type may be provided for locking the panel 30 and top frame 72 to the tailgate 26.
Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, there is shown an alternative moveable flap 112 usable with the panel 30 in lieu of the hinged flaps 46, 48. All common reference characters shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 identify identical or substantially similar elements, as hereinbefore discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-7.
The moveable flaps 112 are supported by side rails 114, 116 each including slots 118, 120 and 122, 124 respectively for supporting pins 126, 128 protruding from the side 130 of the moveable panel 112, only one side and pins 126, 128 being shown in FIGS. 8-10.
The rails 114, 116 may be fixed to the panel 30 in any conventional manner enable moving at the moveable flap from a position generally flush with the panel 30 and side wall top 34 as shown in FIG. 9 to a position beneath the panel 30 as illustrated in FIG. 10 which provides an opening 132 to enable passage of the wheel well cover 52 past the panel 30 as the panel is lowered to the first position abutting the bed 16 as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Although there has been hereinabove described a specific tonneau cover in accordance with the present invention for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

## Claims

1. A tonneau cover comprising:
a moveable panel abuttable in a parallel relationship with a truck bed, said panel comprising a pair of moveable side panels each having a top portion positioned at a same level as a top portion of the moveable panel at a second position above the bed; and
a mechanism including articulating arms for enabling movement of said moveable panel between a first position above the bed and the second position generally level with tops of upstanding sidewalls of the bed and above the first position.

2. The tonneau cover of claim 1, further comprising a top frame sized for resting atop the sidewall tops and hinged at a front wall for enabling pivotal movement at the front wall.

3. The tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein the articulating arms enable generally vertical movement of said moveable panel.

4. The tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein each moveable side panel includes a support device that is configured for moving on a slot.

5. The tonneau cover of claim 4, wherein the support device is slidable in the slot.

6. A tonneau cover system comprising:
a flat moveable panel disposed in a parallel relationship with a truck bed, said moveable panel comprising at least one slidable side panel accommodating movement of said moveable panel to a first position above said bed;
a top frame sized for resting atop sidewall tops and hinged at a front wall for enabling pivotal movement at the front wall; and
a mechanism including articulating arms for enabling movement of said moveable panel between the first position, and a higher second position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the articulating arms enable generally vertical movement of said panel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second position is generally level with tops of a pair of upstanding sidewalls of the bed.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the side panel includes a support device that is configured for moving on a slot.

10. A tonneau cover assembly for a truck having a bed, said tonneau cover assembly comprising:
a moveable panel;
a mechanism including articulating arms for enabling movement of said moveable panel between a first position abutting a truck bed, and a second position generally level with tops of upstanding sidewalls of the truck; and
a pair of side panels for accommodating movement of said panel to the first position, wherein each side panel having a top portion positioned at a same level as a top portion of said moveable panel at the second position.

11. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising a top frame sized for resting atop the sidewall tops and hinged at a front wall of the truck bed for enabling pivotal movement at the front wall.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the articulating arms enable generally vertical movement of said moveable panel.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said articulating arms are pivotally attached to depending brackets fixed to said top frame and said moveable panel.

14. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising connecting rods disposed between and pivotally attached between pairs of articulated arms.

15. The assembly of claim 10, wherein each side panel includes at least one support device that is configured for moving within a slot.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the support device is slidable within the slot.

17. The assembly of claim 10, wherein each side panel being movable beneath a position of the moveable panel.