Abstract:
A generally laminar cover member extends between the sidewalls, end wall, and tailgate of the bed of a pickup truck and is removably secured to at least one of the sidewalls and end wall. The cover member is formed of a rigid material adapted to bear a load and is secured to the sidewalls in a location to leave at least 75% of the bed volume under the cover usable for storage. At least one leg member is secured to one side of the cover member, the leg members being selectively extendable to permit use of the cover as a table when the cover is removed from the bed of the pickup truck.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to coverings for the beds of pickup trucks and similar vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to bed covers that are sufficiently rigid to permit the cover to bear a load while the cover leaves a majority of the bed volume under the cover unobstructed and usable. 
     2. Summary of Prior Art 
     For many years, covers have been sold for the beds of pickup trucks for aesthetic and functional reasons. The most common of these covers is the tonneau cover, which is usually formed of fabric and secured to the bed of the truck, above the floor and usually at the top of the bed walls, by grommets, elastic cords, and the like. Clearly, while a fabric cover may protect the bed and its contents from the elements, it is not well adapted to secure the bed against unauthorized entry and theft or vandalism to the contents. 
     Accordingly, the prior art discloses a number of rigid covers for pickup truck beds. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,722, to Parri, discloses a bed cover having a rigid platform mounted on slides. U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,058, to Karrer, discloses a bed enclosure using several covers to enclose the bed of a truck. U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,709, to Carroll, discloses a rigid cover adapted to carry loads in conjunction with stake sides. U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,778, to Goble, discloses a bed cover adapted for converting the bed of a pickup into a dog kennel with a tent or covered sitting area above. U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,775, to Beals, discloses a rigid, load bearing cover that locks. 
     Other patents disclose storage units adapted to partition or otherwise make use of bed space that have the incidental effect of providing a rigid top or cover for the storage device(s). Such apparatus are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,364, to Rafi-Zadeh; U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,305, to McKneely; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,895 to Allison, et al. Each of these devices interferes with the original volume of the bed, which is their intended function. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,329,979 and 5,239,934, to Miller et al., disclose a storage device for a pickup that can be removed from the bed and is provided with legs so that the device can function as a work table. Similar is U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,898, to Williams, which discloses a device that provides drawers in the bed that can be used as work tables. 
     A commercial rigid bed cover is sold by Covercraft Industries of Pauls Valley, Okla. as the “Hardshell Tonneau Cover” and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,042,173 and 5,743,586, to Nett. This cover is hinged at the forward or end wall of the pickup bed, but is not easily removed and cannot function as a table when removed. 
     A need exists, therefore, for a pickup truck bed cover that is rigid and capable of bearing a load (so that the flat portion of the bed cover remains useful), does not interfere with the use of the majority of the bed volume, is easily removed from the pickup bed, and can be used as a table when removed from the pickup bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved bed cover for the bed of a pickup truck. The bed of the pickup has a pair of parallel, spaced-apart, upstanding sidewalls, a tailgate extending transversely between the sidewalls at one end, and an end wall extending between the sidewalls at an end opposite the tailgate. The sidewalls, end wall and tailgate define a bed volume, which is a useful part of the bed. 
     This object is achieved by providing a generally laminar cover member extending between the sidewalls, end wall, and tailgate and removably secured to at least one of the sidewalls and end wall. The cover member is formed of a rigid material adapted to bear a load and is secured to the sidewalls in a location to leave at least 75% of the bed volume under the cover usable for storage. A pair of leg members are secured to one side of the cover member, the leg members being selectively extendable to permit use of the cover as a table when the cover is removed from the bed of the pickup truck. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the end wall is defined by a vertically extending portion of a toolbox disposed in the bed opposite the tailgate. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the end wall is an integral portion of the pickup truck bed. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the bed cover further comprises at least one hinge member, coupled to the cover member and extending along an axis of the bed to permit partial opening of the bed cover and access to the bed volume under the bed cover. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one hinge member further comprises a first hinge member connecting the bed cover to the end wall, a second hinge member extending transversely between the sidewalls and coupling a forward and a rear portion of the bed cover to one another, a third hinge member extending from the tail gate perpendicular to and intersecting the second hinge member to connect right rear and left rear portions of the cover member to one another. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first hinge member comprises a plurality of individual hinge members with removable hinge pins to permit it selective removal of the cover member from the bed. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cover member is formed of aluminum plate having a non-skid tread pattern formed on at least an upper surface thereof. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings and detailed description, which follow. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of a conventional pickup, illustrating the bed cover according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion of a conventional pickup, illustrating the bed cover according to the present invention in an open position. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bed cover according to the present invention removed from the pickup and with the legs extended to form a table. 
     FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6  are perspective views of a multi-panel embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention for use with a pickup bed having a tool box. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views of a another multi-panel embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged section view of the leg retention means according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of the attachment of the perimeter frame rails according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of the panel locking device in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 are fragmentary section views of the attachment of the gas struts to the frame and cover member in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the connection or coupling between perimeter frame members in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the connection or coupling between perimeter and central frame members in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the Figures, and specifically to FIG. 1, a pickup truck  1  is illustrated. Pickup truck  1  includes a cab  3  for the passengers and a bed  5 , which comprises a pair of upstanding, spaced-apart and parallel sidewalls  7 , an end wall  9 , and tail gate  11 . The walls of the bed define a bed volume, which is a portion of the useful carrying capacity of pickup  1 . 
     A bed cover  13  according to the present invention is disposed on and between the sidewalls  7 , end wall  9 , and tail gate  11 , to cover the bed. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover  13  is a laminar or sheet-like panel or cover member formed of 0.125″ aluminum plate with a diamond non-skid pattern formed on at least the upper surface thereof. Tread Brite is a trade name for a preferred aluminum plate with diamond non-skid pattern. Bed cover  13  thus constructed is capable of bearing loads so that the horizontal surface provided by cover  13  is still useful for carrying loads even though the bed is covered. The edges of bed cover  13  are bent or rolled over or turned down to provide additional structural rigidity. 
     Preferably, cover  13  extends to cover the entire bed and is mounted flush with, or slightly above or below, the upper extent of the walls defining the bed. Thus, a majority of the useful volume of the bed below the plane defined by the upper extend of sidewalls  7 , end wall  9 , and tail gate  11 , is preserved for storage or the like. Due to legs, bracing, hinges and other features (described below), it is impossible to preserve 100% of the volume of the bed, but it is preferable that 75 to 90% of the original bed volume be preserved. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, bed cover  13  is secured by a pair of conventional hinges to end wall  9 , and can be opened along that hinged axis to permit access to the bed volume under cover  13 . A pair of gas struts  15  is provided to assist in raising cover  13  to the open position and to maintain it there until cover  13  is closed. According to another embodiment of the present invention, cover  13  is divided into panels that are hinged along one or more axes of the bed to provide access from several directions. 
     FIG. 3 shows bed cover  13  removed from bed  5  with at least one, preferably four, leg members  17  extended so that bed cover  13  can be used as a work or picnic table when removed from the bed of pickup  1 . Each leg  17  is provided with a brace  19  between the leg and cover member  13 , and are hinged, so that legs  17  are selectively extendable from and collapsible relative to cover member  13 . Although four legs  17  are preferred, any number or combination of leg arrangements suitable to convert cover  13  into a table is satisfactory. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention that is hinged along the central longitudinal axis of bed  5  to provide a cover that can be opened from either side of the bed to provide access. A central frame member  21  is provided extending between perimeter frame members  23  and each pangl  13 A,  13 B of the cover is secured by a pair of hinges to it (as shown in FIG.  5 ). Each panel can be removed from bed  5  (by removing the hinge pins) to form a table as shown in FIG.  6 . In this embodiment, a pair of conventional, folding “banquet table” legs  25  is secured to the underside of panel  13 B. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention that is used in conjunction with a toolbox  101 . This embodiment is virtually identical to that of FIGS. 1 through 3 except that cover member  13  is not secured by hinges to endwall  9 , but to a frame member adjacent the toolbox, which serves as the endwall. This embodiment can also be provided with multiple panels like the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 8. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views (top and bottom, in the bottom view, angle “iron” bracing and leg retaining means are not shown) of still another embodiment of the present invention in which the panels  13 A,  13 B,  13 C of the cover member are hinged along two axes to permit access to the bed from either side near the cab or from over the tailgate. Accordingly, a central frame member  27  extends from endwall  9  to the medial portion of bed  5 , and intersects another central member  29  extending between sidewalls  7 . A pair of hinges connects each panel  13 A,  13 B,  13 C to a central member as shown in FIG.  9 . The hinge pins of the hinges are removable and each panel may be provided with legs as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6. Thus, the hinges and central members form hinge members that are axes about which panels of the cover member rotate to permit access to bed  5  from various directions in various embodiments. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, there are right and left front or forward panels  13 B,  13 C, and a rear panel  13 A. 
     FIG. 10 is a partial section view of a mechanism for retaining legs  19 ,  25  in the folded position. A length of “angle iron” (aluminum is preferred)  35  is secured to the underside of cover member  13  and one leg is drilled with a hole or aperture. A portion of the leg member (banquet table leg  25  is illustrated) is received by angle iron and secured to it by a cotter pin  37 , which registers with a hole in leg member  25  and the hole in angle iron  35 . This secures the leg in a folded position but easily permits unfolding. 
     FIG. 11 is a partial section view of a perimeter frame member  23 , which is a length of angle iron (aluminum is preferred) secured by bolts  43  or rivets to the side- or end walls ( 7 , 9 ) of bed. The edges of cover member  13  (or panels  13 A,  13 b,  13 C) rest on member  23  and cover  13  is thus flush or near-flush with the top of bed  5 . 
     FIG. 12 is a partial section view of the locking mechanism employed in the present invention. As shown, a keyed rotating lock assembly  45  is inserted through an aperture in cover  13 . A hasp or tongue  47  extends from assembly  45  and is rotated into and out of engagement with peripheral member to selectively lock one or more of the panels of cover member  13  in a closed position. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views of the attachment of gas struts  15  to cover member  13  and frame members  23 . As shown in FIG. 12, a bracket of angle “iron” (aluminum is preferred) is welded or secured to frame member  25 , which is secured to side-or end-wall  7 , 9  of bed (as described in FIG.  11 ). A stud with a ball at its end  53  extends from bracket  51 . The lower end of strut  15  has a socket  55 , that fits over and engages the ball on stud  53  to provide a rotating and self-aligning connection at the lower end of strut  15 . At the upper end, as shown in FIG. 13, another bracket is secured to cover member (not shown) and a stud  63  projects from it. A ring member is provided on the end of strut  15  that registers with stud  63  and is retained there by a cotter pin  65  to provide a rotating pin connection. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view, partially in section, of the connection at the corners of perimeter members  25 . Sidewall perimeter member  23  (coupled to sidewall  7  as show in FIG. 10) is provided at its end with a flattened section  71 , with a hole bored through it. A corresponding hole is bored in cross perimeter member  23  (which is a box section). A Dzus fastener  73  is employed to couple members  23  together rigidly, but in a manner that can be disassembled easily. 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary section view of the attachment of a central frame member  29  to perimeter frame members  23 . A box bracket  81 , open at the top, is welded or otherwise secured to angle “iron” of perimeter member  23 . A pair of coaxial holes  83  are formed in box bracket and register with corresponding holes  85  in central frame member  29 . A bolt or clevis pin (not shown) is inserted through holes  83 ,  85  to removably secure central frame member  29  to perimeter member  23 . 
     In operation, bed cover  13  provides a strong, secure and aerodynamic cover for the bed of a pickup. It can be used in conjunction with a toolbox or without. When removed from the pickup, bed cover  13  can be used as a work or picnic table. When in place on the bed of pickup  1 , the cover provides a horizontal, load-bearing surface, such that the utility of the bed is not completely lost. The multi-panel embodiments permit access to the bed from various directions or locations around the bed. 
     The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is thus not limited, but is susceptible to variation and modification without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims.