Abstract:
A tonneau cover assembly is provided for a bed of a pickup truck having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. The tonneau cover assembly includes an elongated rail adapted to be fixedly secured to each of the pair of spaced apart sidewalls. Each of the elongated rails includes a bottom member having at least one opening extending therethrough. A panel includes opposing ends slidably coupled to the elongated rails for selectively covering the bed. A retention member is fixedly secured to each of the opposing ends of the panel for slidingly engaging the elongated rails. Each of the retention members is receivable within the opening along one of the elongated rails to retain the panel in place along the elongated rails.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to and all the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/633,878, filed on Dec. 6, 2004, and entitled “Latching Arrangement for a Tonneau Cover.” 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to tonneau covers for pickup trucks. More particularly, this invention relates to a latching arrangement for retaining a tonneau cover in place above a pickup truck bed. 
   DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
   Pickup trucks include a bed having a front wall abutting a passenger cab, a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending rearwards from the front wall, and a tailgate extending between the pair of spaced apart sidewalls. The bed is generally exposed to the elements, that is, to moisture, wind, and debris. As a result, the contents of the bed are also exposed to the elements and, therefore, subject to damage therefrom. The exposed bed also produces wind resistance or drag during pickup truck operation, which adversely affects fuel economy of the pickup truck. 
   Protective covers, commonly known as tonneau covers, have been developed for pickup trucks to prevent damage to the contents of the bed and to increase pickup truck fuel economy. Tonneau covers may be either soft or hard. Soft tonneau covers, which are formed from a fabric material, are stretched across the bed and secured to each of the sidewalls. Hard tonneau covers, which are formed from metal, plastic, fiberglass or a similar hard structural material, are typically pivotally mounted to the bed using one or more hinge mechanisms. 
   Hard tonneau covers commonly include a latch mechanism for selectively locking the hard tonneau cover in place against the pair of sidewalls and over the bed. Typically, the latch mechanism is mounted entirely inside the bed such that the tailgate must be opened in order to access the latch. The latch mechanism provides security for articles stored within the bed. In addition, the latch mechanism prevents the tonneau cover from inadvertently opening during pickup truck operation. 
   If the latch mechanism fails, however, the tonneau cover is free to open. Thus, there is a need for a latching arrangement for retaining the tonneau cover in place over the pickup truck bed in the event of failure of a main latch mechanism. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect of the invention, a tonneau cover assembly is provided for a bed of a pickup truck having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. The tonneau cover assembly includes an elongated rail adapted to be fixedly secured to each of the pair of spaced apart sidewalls. Each of the elongated rails includes a bottom member having at least one opening. A panel includes opposing ends slidably coupled to the elongated rails for selectively covering a portion of the bed. A retention member is fixedly secured to each of the opposing ends of the panel for slidingly engaging the elongated rails. Each of the retention members is receivable within the opening along one of the elongated rails to retain the panel in place along the elongated rails. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a tonneau cover assembly is provided for a bed of a pickup truck having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. The tonneau cover assembly includes an elongated rail adapted to be fixedly secured to each of the pair of spaced apart sidewalls. A panel having opposing ends is slidably coupled to each of the elongated rails for selectively covering a portion of the bed. The panel includes a striker extending out therefrom. A latch is rotatably mounted to at least one of the elongated rails and engageable with the striker to lock the panel in place along the elongated rails. 
   According to still another aspect of the invention, a tonneau cover assembly is provided for a bed of a pickup truck having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls. The tonneau cover assembly includes an elongated rail adapted to be fixedly secured to each of the pair of spaced apart sidewalls. Each of the elongated rails includes a bottom member having at least one opening extending therethrough. A panel having a pair of spaced apart retention members slidingly engages the respective elongated rails. Each of the retention members is receivable within one of the openings along each elongated rail. The panel also includes a striker extending out therefrom. A latch is rotatably mounted to at least one of the elongated rails and is engageable with the striker to provide a primary latch for selectively locking the panel in place along the elongated rails. The retention members and the respective openings along each of the elongated rails forms a secondary latch for retaining the panel in place along the elongated rails when the primary latch is disengaged. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a pickup truck including a tonneau cover assembly, having front, middle, and rear panels, covering a bed; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of the pickup truck including an elongated rail of the tonneau cover assembly fixedly secured to each of a pair of spaced apart sidewalls; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a retention member fixedly secured to the middle panel and disposed within a channel along one of the elongated rails; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing the retention member received within an opening in a bottom surface of one of the elongated rail for securing the middle panel in place along the elongated rail; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, side view of the tonneau cover assembly including the retention member in slidable engagement with one of the elongated rails for insertion into the corresponding opening in the bottom surface of one of the elongated rails; 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary, perspective view of the tonneau cover assembly including a striker extending out from a bottom surface of the middle panel, and a latch rotatably mounted along one of the elongated rails; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the middle panel including the striker engaged by the latch; 
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of the pickup truck including the tonneau cover assembly having only the front and rear panels in position for defining an open storage space therebetween; 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of the pickup truck including the tonneau cover assembly having the front and middle panels in position for defining an open storage space therebehind; and 
       FIG. 10  is a fragmentary, rear perspective view of the pick up truck including the tonneau cover assembly having the front panel in position for defining an open storage space therebehind. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pickup truck, generally shown at  10 , includes a passenger cab  12  and a bed  14  extending rearwards therefrom. The bed  14  includes a front wall  16  abutting the passenger cab  12 , a pair of spaced apart, longitudinal sidewalls  18 ,  20  extending rearwards from the front wall  16 , and a tailgate  22  extending between the pair of sidewalls  18 ,  20 . The tailgate  22  selectively pivots relative to the pair of sidewalls  18 ,  20  to allow access to the bed  14 . 
   A tonneau cover assembly, generally indicated at  24 , is disposed over the bed  14  to protect articles stored therewithin from the elements, i.e., moisture, wind, and debris. The tonneau cover assembly  24  includes a front panel  26 , a middle panel  28 , and a rear panel  30 . The panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  are overflush with the pair of sidewalls  18 ,  20 . Preferably, the panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  are formed from a composite material. It is, however, appreciated that the panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  may be formed from metal, plastic, structural foam, or a combination thereof. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a header  32  is fixedly secured above the front wall  16  of the bed  14 . The front panel  26  is pivotally hinged to the header  32  for movement relative thereto. A tray or basket (not shown) may be positioned inside the bed  14  adjacent to the front wall  16  for storage of smaller items. The tray or basket is selectively closed by the front panel  26 . 
   An elongated rail  34  extends along each of the pair of sidewalls  18 ,  20  and is fixedly secured thereto by a plurality of clamps  36 . Each of the elongated rails  34  includes a front end  38  abutting the header  32  and an opposing back end  40 . Preferably, the header  32  and the elongated rails  34  are extruded aluminum components. It is, however, contemplated that the header  32  and the elongated rails  34  may be formed from any of various materials. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of the elongated rails  34  includes a sidewall portion  42  disposed above each of the pair of sidewalls  18 ,  20  (one shown), and a track portion, generally indicated at  44 , extending out from the sidewall portion  42  into the bed interior. The track portion  44  includes opposing side members  46 ,  48  having respective inwardly extending ends  50 ,  52 . A bottom member  54  extends between the opposing side members  46 ,  48 . The side members  46 ,  48  and bottom member  54  define a channel  56  having an open end  57 , shown in  FIG. 2 , at the back end  40  of each elongated rail  34 . The bottom member  54  includes a plurality of spaced apart openings  58  (one of which is shown in  FIG. 5 ) spaced apart from one another along each of the elongated rails  34 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , an elongated seal  64  is fixedly secured to a flange  66  extending out from the sidewall portion  42  of each elongated rail  34 . The seal  64 , which extends between the front  38  and back  40  ends of each elongated rail  34 , sealingly engages the front  26 , middle  28 , and rear  30  panels in order to prevent moisture from entering the bed  14  and damaging the contents thereof. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the middle panel  28  is slidably coupled to the elongated rails  34 . It is appreciated that although only the middle panel  28  is shown and described from this point forward, the following description applies equally to the rear panel  30 . A pair of spaced apart retention members or retention members  60  (one shown) is fixedly secured to and extends out from a bottom surface  62  of the middle panel  28 . Each retention member  60  is aligned with the open end  57  of one of the elongated rails  34  and received within the channel  56  thereof. The retention members  60  each have an arcuate or contoured bottom edge  61  that slides along the bottom member  54  of each of the elongated rails  34 . 
   As the retention members  60  slide within the respective channels  56 , the middle panel  28  moves along the elongated rails  34 . Each retention member  60  is selectively received within one of the spaced apart openings  58 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , to secure the middle panel  28  in place along the elongated rails  34  and over a portion of the bed  14 . When the retention members  60  are disposed within the respective openings  58 , the middle panel  28  is not able to move relative to the elongated rails  34 . It is appreciated that the particular shape of the retention members  60  may vary depending on the particular size of the openings  58 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , at least one striker  68  is fixedly secured to the bottom surface  62  of the middle panel  28 . In a preferred embodiment, the middle panel  28  includes two strikers, one at each opposing end  70 . When the retention members  60  are received within the respective openings  58  along each elongated rail  34 , each striker  68  overlies a latch, generally indicated at  72 . The latch  72  includes a cam lever  73  rotatably mounted along at least one of the elongated rails  34 . In the preferred embodiment, each of the elongated rails  34  includes one latch  72  rotatably mounted thereto for engagement with one of the strikers  34 . The user manually urges the cam lever  73  into engagement with the striker  68  to lock the middle panel  28  in place along the elongated rails  34  and over the bed  14 . 
   It is appreciated that the latch  72  acts as a primary latch for the tonneau cover assembly  24 . The above-described elongated rails  34  and retention members  60  function as a secondary latch for retaining the middle panel  28  in place along the elongated rails  34  in those instances in which the latch  72  is not actuated due to either user forgetfulness or primary latch malfunction. Thus, the above-described dual latch arrangement prevents inadvertent movement of the middle panel  28  relative to the pair of sidewalls  18 ,  20  of the bed  14 . 
   To install the middle panel  28 , a user aligns the retention members  60  extending out from the bottom surface  62  of the middle panel  28  with the back end  40  of the respective elongated rails  34 . A cross member (not shown) may be fixed between the elongated rails  34  during installation to support the middle panel  28 . The user then guides the middle panel  28  forward so that each retention members  60  enters the channel  56  of one of the elongated rails  34  for sliding engagement therewith, as shown at A in  FIG. 5 . Next, the user slides the middle panel  28  along the elongated rails  34  towards the front end  38  thereof until each retention member  60  is received within one of the openings  58  along each elongated rail  34 , as shown at B in  FIG. 5 . When the retention members  60  are received within the respective openings  58 , the middle panel  28  is secured in place relative to the elongated rails  34  and retained over the bed  14 . The user then manually actuates the latch  72  into engagement with the striker  68  to lock the middle panel  28  in place. 
   To remove the middle panel  28 , the user first releases the latch  72  (if it has been engaged). The user then slightly lifts the middle panel  28  and pulls it rearwards so that the retention members  60  are elevated out of the respective openings  58  and into contact with the bottom member  54  of each elongated rail  34 . The arcuate surface  61  of each retention member  60  assists the removal thereof from the openings  58 . The middle panel  28  is then pulled rearwards towards the back end  40  of each elongated rail  34  until the retention members  60  exit through the respective channels  56  to disengage the respective elongated rails  34 . 
   As stated above, the rear panel  30  is installed and removed in the same fashion. When installed, the middle  28  and rear  30  panels, like the front panel  26 , are overflush with the sidewalls  18 ,  20 . 
   As an added benefit, the above-described system provides users with a great amount of flexibility in configuring the panels  26 ,  28 ,  30  of the tonneau cover assembly  24 . For example, either of the middle  28  or rear  30  panels may be individually removed from the pickup truck  10  in order to accommodate articles or varying sizes. For example, if the user desires to store a taller item, such a plant, in the bed  14 , the user may remove the middle panel  28  and install only the rear panel  30  to provide an open storage space, as shown in  FIG. 8 . Thus, the taller item is allowed to extend through the open storage space created by the removal of the middle panel  28 . At the same time, the rear panel  30  is positioned to protect additional articles stored in the bed  14 . Similarly, rear panel  30  may be removed and only the middle panel  28  installed to provide an open storage space behind the middle panel  28 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Further, the middle  28  and rear  30  panels may both be removed, as shown in  FIG. 10 , in order to accommodate even larger articles. 
   The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.