Abstract:
A retainer system for vehicle soft tops and tonneau covers. The system includes a belt attached to the edge of the fabric of the top or tonneau cover and a channel member mounted on the vehicle to selectively receive the belt. The belt is provided with a stop mechanism to positively prevent the belt from peeling out of the retaining channel member farther than desired. In the preferred embodiments, the stop mechanism is a notch or cutout in the belt. With the present retainer system, the notch will effectively stop the peel or withdrawal of the belt from the retaining channel at a predetermined location along the channel. In this manner, the belt and attached top or tonneau cover can be partially removed from engagement along the channel member to make it easier and quicker for the operator to perform a number of desirable tasks.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/340,102 filed Oct. 29, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of fabric soft tops and tonneau covers for vehicles and more particularly to the field of retainer systems for removably securing such soft tops and tonneau covers to the vehicles. 
     2. Discussion of the Background 
     Securing a soft top or tonneau cover made of fabric-like material such as canvas or vinyl to the body of a vehicle has always presented challenging design problems. Co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,854 in this regard taught a very effective way to accomplish this in which a belt or flange was attached to the edge of the flexible, fabric top and inserted into a U-shaped channel mounted on the vehicle body. In doing so, the flexible top was first pulled taut and then slightly stretched. This placed the resilient top under a small tension as the belt was manually manipulated into the channel; and, the resulting tension was then used to seat and maintain the belt with the attached top in the channel. 
     This approach of U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,854 has been an industry standard for years. It is particularly useful in attaching long stretches of the top or tonneau to the vehicle. In doing so, it is only necessary to initially manipulate a lengthwise portion of the belt into the channel and the resulting forces then create a twisting or wave effect along the remaining length of the belt. This twist or wave travels down the length of the belt and greatly aids the person in inserting the rest of the belt in the retaining channel. The twisting or wave effect also works in reverse to quickly and easily aid the operator in removing the belt and attached top or tonneau from the retainer channel. That is, only a small portion of the belt needs to be initially removed from the retaining channel and then the twisting or wave effect will essentially peel the belt lengthwise out of the retaining channel. 
     In nearly all applications, this prior retaining system will outperform all others. However, in certain situations, the wave or peel of the belt can be a drawback. For example, if the operator only wants to detach a small portion of the belt (e.g., to fold back only a corner or the last foot or so of a tonneau cover to place a grocery bag or other item in the box of the pick up truck or other vehicle), the peel effect may cause the cover to essentially take off and detach the belt much farther than desired. In another situation when the operator may want to attach the removable rear panel to the rest of the soft top for a sport utility vehicle, he or she may find it difficult to reach and start the zipper attachment. Often, the operator will then remove the rear section of the belt to provide some slack in the top. However, he or she quickly discovers that the otherwise desirable wave or peel effect may have taken over. The released belt section may then continue to detach itself much farther than was desired or necessary to provide enough slack to reach and start the zipper attachment for the rear panel. In this corner area of the vehicle, the belt may even continue to detach itself completely around the corner and for a considerable length along the side of the vehicle. The operator may then have to re-attach a considerable length of the belt. 
     With this in mind, the present invention was developed. In it, the belt of the prior system has been provided with a notch or stop along its length. In operation and in a number of applications, the notched belt of the present invention provides an effective stop to the wave or peel of the prior system. This enables the user to manipulate the top or tonneau cover in a number of new and desirable ways without having the belt take off and detach any farther than is desirable or necessary to accomplish the desired tasks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention involves a retainer system for vehicle soft tops and tonneau covers. The system includes a belt attached to the edge of the fabric of the top or tonneau cover and a channel member mounted on the vehicle to selectively receive the belt. The belt of the present invention is provided with a stop mechanism to positively prevent the belt from peeling out of the retaining channel member farther than desired. In the preferred embodiments, the stop mechanism is a notch or cutout in the belt. With the present invention, the notch will effectively stop the peel or withdrawal of the belt from the retaining channel at a predetermined location along the channel. 
     In this manner, the belt and attached top or tonneau cover can be partially removed from engagement along the channel member to make it easier and quicker for the operator to perform a number of desirable functions. In one application, the rear corner area of the soft top can be detached from the rear channel member to slacken the side curtain of the top for easier attachment of the rear panel zipper. In doing so, the belt will not take off and peel or disengage from the rear channel any farther than is desired or necessary to easily reach and start the tracks of the zipper. In another application, the stop mechanism provided by the notch in the belt will allow the operator to raise only a corner of a tonneau cover to retrieve or place a small item into the box of the pickup truck or other vehicle. The stop mechanism can also be used to allow the operator to roll or fold the rear of the tonneau cover forward only one or two feet to provide limited access to the box. In doing so, the side belts of the cover will not take off and peel farther toward the front of the vehicle than desired. The notched stop of the belts can additionally be used with other folded or pivoted parts such as sunroofs to provide not only a predetermined limit to the disengagement of the belts but also a natural fold line at the notch. The notched portion of the belts in this regard provides not only a stop but also a living hinge for the folded or pivoted part. In all of the preferred applications, the notched approach of the present invention maintains the ease of attachment of the fabric to the belts during the manufacturing process and serves to create a neat and smooth appearance of the top or cover as mounted on the vehicle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pickup truck with a prior art tonneau cover secured over the box of the vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 is view similar to FIG. 1 but with the cover removed from the vehicle. 
     FIG. 3 is partially broken away view of the tonneau cover and vehicle of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating how the belt attached to the tonneau cover of FIGS. 1-4 can be progressively manipulated to secure it in the retaining channel member. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the prior art tonneau cover of FIG. 1 with a corner of it being lifted to provide limited access to the bed of the vehicle to retrieve or place a small item such as a grocery bag in the bed of the vehicle. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates how the lifting of the tonneau corner in FIG. 6 can undesirable cause the belts attached to the cover to take off and peel out of their retaining channels beyond the desired position of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the peeling effect that occurs in the areas indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a prior art soft top on a sport utility vehicle. 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the rear corner area of the vehicle and soft top of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 with the rear section of the belt partially removed from the rear retaining channel. This will provide slack in the side curtain of the top to facilitate the initial engagement of the zipper between the rear panel and side curtain of the top. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates how the operation of FIG. 11 may result in the belt undesirably peeling out of the retaining channel completely around the corner of the vehicle. 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the corner of a prior art soft top which has been provided with two, spaced-apart belt segments on each side of the corner. 
     FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the rear belt segment in a position released from the rear retaining channel to create slack in the side curtain of the top. 
     FIG. 15 is a view of the notched belt of the present invention as attached to the rear corner area of a soft top. 
     FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken along line  16 — 16  of FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken along line  17 — 17  of FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 18 is a view of the notched belt of the present invention prior to being attached to the soft top of FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 19 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the notched belt of the present invention in use to secure the soft top to the corner of the vehicle. 
     FIG. 20 is a view showing the end section of the notched belt of FIG. 19 in its released position from the rear retaining channel to provide slack in the side curtain of the top yet at the same time provide a positive stop to the peel action of the belt. 
     FIG. 21 is plan view of the lifted corner of a tonneau cover as in FIG. 6 but employing the belt notches of the present invention to provide positive stops on each side of the corner so only the desired amount of the tonneau corner is released from the vehicle. 
     FIG. 22 shows the application of the present invention to the side belts of a tonneau cover so that a predetermined portion of the rear of the cover can be rolled or folded back and positively stopped to provide limited access to the box of the vehicle. 
     FIGS. 23-25 show a prior art top on a sport utility vehicle in which the attachment above the door for the sunroof has spaced-apart belt segments with the inherent manufacturing, operating, and appearance drawbacks of FIGS. 13 and 14. 
     FIGS. 26-28 illustrate the application of notched belt of the present invention to the pivoted sunroof area of FIGS. 23-25 to create a positive stop to the disengagement of edge of the top at the notch in FIG. 28 as well as to create a smooth and neat appearance in the lowered position of the sunroof in FIG.  26 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the known retainer system illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the flexible tonneau cover  1  is removably secured about the box  3  of the vehicle  5  by an arrangement of belts  7  and channel members  9 . This prior art system is also disclosed in co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,854. Basically, this system operates by sewing belts like  7  in FIG. 4 along each edge  11  of the tonneau cover  1 . The tonneau cover  1  in this regard is commonly made of a durable fabric-like material such as canvas or vinyl. Each edge  11  of the tonneau cover  1  (see again FIG. 4) has a portion wrapped around or otherwise aligned with an edge  13  of the belt  7  and sewn in place by stitching  15 . In operation as best seen in FIG. 5, the belt  7  can first be manipulated relative to the channel member  9  to the position A shown in dotted lines. Using the channel member  9  as a fulcrum, the belt  7  can then be manually rotated in the manner of a lever to position B. This not only draws the tonneau cover  1  taut but also slightly stretches and tensions the fabric of the cover  1 . As the belt  7  in FIG. 5 is further rotated about the channel member  9  from position B, the tension created in the tonneau cover  1  helps to draw and seat the belt  7  (position C) in the retaining channel  9 ′ in the member  9 . Preferably, the free edge  17  of the belt  7  in this retained position C as shown in full lines in FIGS. 4 and 5 is actually abutting the bottom of the channel  9 ′. 
     The belt of this known system can be cut into a number of individual lengths or segments (e.g., one for each side of the rectangular cover  1 ) or can be continuous as in FIG. 6 to go around corners of the vehicle  5  such as  19 . Regardless, and if the operator for example only wants to release the corner  21  of the cover  1  in FIG. 6 to gain limited access to the box of the vehicle  5  to retrieve a small item, he can simply lift the belt  7  at the corner  21  out of the rear and side retainer channels  9 . In doing so, the belt  7  along the rear wall (i.e., tailgate  23 ) and side wall  25  will come out of the respective channel members  9  the desired one or two feet in a peel or wave-like manner. Unfortunately, there is no stop for the peel or wave and the belt  7  tends to take off and continue to peel out of the channel members  9  almost all the way along the rear wall  23  and side wall  25  (see FIG.  7 ). 
     This peel or wave as illustrated in FIG. 8 tends to happen in part because the fabric tonneau cover  1  is slightly stretched and tensioned. Consequently, the tension will continue to pull the belt  7  out of the channel member  9  once the peel or wave is begun. The manual forces applied to initially twist the belt  7  about its longitudinal axis to remove the belt  7  from the channel  9 ′ in the member  9  also play a part. It is noted in this regard that the peel or wave effect is most desirable in helping to initially insert the belt  7  into the channel member  9  and to remove the belt entirely from the channel member  9  as discussed above. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, it can be a drawback if is desirable only to release a limited area such as the corner  21  of the tonneau cover  1  as in FIG.  6 . 
     The same problem can occur in the corner area  19 ′ of the soft top  1 ′ of FIG.  9 . That is, soft tops such as  1 ′ normally have a clear or windowed, rear panel  27  that is removably attached by the zipper tracks  31  (see FIG. 10) to the side curtain  33  of the top  1 ′. The side curtain  33  as illustrated in FIG. 10 is secured around the vehicle corner  19 ′ by the belt  7  and channel member  9 . In this secured position of FIG. 10, the side curtain  33  is held tautly in place. It is then sometimes very difficult to manually grip, align, and start the tracks  31  of the zipper. Consequently, many operators then release the rear end of the belt  7  (see FIG. 11) from the channel member  9  adjacent the tailgate  23 ′. This provides enough slack in the side curtain  33  to easily grip, align, and start the tracks  31  of the zipper. However, in doing so as in FIGS. 6-8, the belt  7  undesirably tends to take off and peel around the corner  19 ′ and along the vehicle side  25 ′ as in FIG.  12 . 
     One known solution to this problem of FIGS. 10-12 is to cut the belt  7  into segments  7 ′ and  7 ″ as in FIGS. 13 and 14. In this manner, the rear section  7 ′ can be individually released from the rear of the channel member  9  (see FIG. 14) to provide the desired slack in the side curtain  33 . In doing so, the physical gap G between the belt segments  7 ′ and  7 ″ will stop any peel or wave. However, when the space-apart belt segments  7 ′ and  7 ″ are secured back in place in the channel member or members  9  as in FIG. 13, the gap G does not present a smooth and neat appearance at the corner  19 ′. This occurs because there is no underlying belt around the curve at G to reinforce the fabric of the top  1 ′ and the fabric tends to gather and wrinkle in the gap G. The corner area  19 ′ is also not very strong because there is no reinforcing belt under the fabric and the fabric may tear. 
     The gapped solution of FIGS. 13 and 14 also presents an undesirable manufacturing problem in that each belt segment  7 ′ and  7 ″ must be individually aligned with the respective edge portions  11  of the fabric top  1 ′ and individually sewn to it. This is true whether the edge portions  11  are wrapped around the edges of the belt segments  7 ″ and  7 ″ or merely laid flat against one surface of the belt segments  7 ′ and  7 ″. In contrast, if the belt is continuous, it can be aligned in one step along the entire edge  11  of the fabric top  1 ′ and then sewn in place in one pass. This is an important advantage in the mass production of the tops  1 ′. That is, the need to align and sew two belt segments  7 ′ and  7 ″ as compared to one greatly adds to the time and cost of assembly. It also can result in the segments  7 ′ and  7 ″ being slightly misaligned with each other and the fabric edge  11  which can significantly detract from the appearance of the assembled top  1 ′. 
     To specifically solve the problem of the peel or wave effect yet not present the assembly and appearance problems of using spaced-apart belt segments such as  7 ′ and  7 ″ in FIGS. 13-14, the notched belt  2  of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 15-18 was developed. In a simple but effective solution, the continuous belt  2  of FIG. 15 is provided with a notch or cutout N. In the manner of FIG. 4, the edge  11  of the fabric top  1 ′ can still be wrapped around or otherwise aligned with the edge  13  of the belt  2  (see FIGS. 15-17) and easily and quickly sewn in place at  15  in a single pass along the entire length of the belt  2 . Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the belt  2  can be used to extend continuously around the vehicle corner  19 ′. However, unlike the belt  7  of FIGS. 10-12, the notched belt  2  of the present invention can be partially released at the end portion  2 ′ from the rear of the channel member  9  (see FIG. 20) and will not continue to undesirably peel or wave around the corner  19 ′ as in FIG.  12 . Rather, as shown in FIG. 20, the notch N will stop the peel or wave at the desired, predetermined position of FIG.  20 . The side curtain  33  can then be partially released to provide enough slack for the operator to easily align the tracks  31  to start the zipper. Yet, the belt  2  will go no further than desired. Once the rear panel  27  is zipped in place, the released end portion  2 ′ of the belt  2  can be easily and quickly secured back into the rear of the channel member  9  into the position of FIG.  19 . In this secured position of FIG. 19, a neat and smooth appearance is then presented by the top  1 ′ at the corner  19 ′. 
     Referring again to FIG. 18, the belt  2  as illustrated extends continuously between the end portions  2 ′ and  2 ″ along the longitudinal axis  8 . The notch N between the end portions  2 ′ and  2 ″ can have a number of shapes (e.g., V-shaped, U-shaped) but is preferably defined as shown by sides  10 ,  12 , and  14 . Sides  10  and  12  are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  8 . Side  14  in turn joins sides  10  and  12  and is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  8 . The notch N as illustrated then opens in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  8  of the continuous, one-piece belt  2 . In use in the secured position of the belt  2  in the channel member  9  as discussed above and as shown in FIG. 19, the opposing sides  10  and  12  of the notch N are both positioned in the channel member  9  adjacent the underside  37  of the planar lip portion  9 ″. In the stopped position as illustrated in FIG. 20, the end portion  2 ′ of the belt  2  has been manually withdrawn from the underside  37  of the channel lip portion  9 ″ and the belt  2  peeled to the point that the lip portion  9 ″ at the predetermined stop location of FIG. 20 is received between the sides  10  and  12  of the notch N. That is, the notch side  12  of the notch N in this position of FIG. 20 remains in the channel member  9  (see FIG. 19) adjacent the underside  37  of the channel lip portion  9 ″. In contrast, the withdrawn end portion  2 ′ of the belt  2  including the side  10  of the notch N in FIG. 20 are now adjacent the outer side  39  of the lip portion  9 ″. In this position of FIG. 20, the belt  2  is then effectively stopped by the notch N from further peeling out of the channel member  9 . 
     The runaway problem of FIGS. 6-8 at the corner  21  of the tonneau cover  1  can also be solved by the notched approach of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the belt  2  adjacent the tonneau corner  21  can be notched at N on one or both sides of the tonneau corner  21 . Consequently, when the tonneau corner  21  is lifted as in FIGS. 6 and 21, it will be positively stopped at the desired location to provide limited access to the box of the vehicle  5  to retrieve or place a small item such as a grocery bag into the box. Such stopping and notching can be accomplished at the corner  19  using the continuous belt  2  as illustrated in FIG. 21 or by using separate, notched belt segments along each of the sides of the rectangular tonneau cover  1 . However, a continuous belt  2  is preferred for ease of manufacture and for its neat and smooth appearance around the corner  19 . 
     In addition to solving the corner lifting problem of FIGS. 6-8, the notching approach of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 22 can be provided along each side  25  of the vehicle  5  to enable the rear of the tonneau cover  1  to be rolled or folded open a limited amount as in FIG.  22 . In doing so, the cover  1  will be stopped and will not take off toward the front of the vehicle  5  beyond the desired position of FIG.  22 . 
     Another application of the present invention is in the environment of a pivoting member such as the sunroof  41  of FIG.  23 . Presently, the pivoting or folding area G of the sunroof  41  of such tops  1 ′ (see FIGS. 23-25) requires the use of spaced-apart belt segments  7 ′ and  7 ″ as in FIGS. 12 and 13. As in FIGS. 12 and 13, these spaced-apart segments  7 ′ and  7 ″ create problems in the manufacturing assembly of the segments to the fabric of the top as discussed above. They also may not have a neat and smooth appearance at the gap G and the gap G may be prone to tearing if not provided with a separate, reinforcing member. In contrast, with the notched approach of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 26-28, these problems are solved. Further, because the notch N creates a natural fold line in the belt  2 , the notch N acts as a living hinge when the sunroof  41  is flipped open to the position of FIG.  28 . Because the plastic of the belt  2  is relatively strong but also flexible, it can withstand the repeated bending about a transverse axis between the closed and opened positions of FIGS. 26 and 28 without fatiguing and breaking. Yet, as the sunroof  41  is pivoted to its open position of FIG. 28, the notch N will also serve to positively stop the peel or wave effect of the top  1 ′ at the desired location of the notch N. As illustrated, the problem of the peeling belt is solved by the notch N of the present invention for both belts extending continuously along straight, longitudinal axes as well as those with longitudinal axes such as  8  in FIG. 18 that have at least a curved portion to accommodate corners of the soft tops, tonneau covers, and vehicles. Additionally and although the invention is shown in use with fabric soft tops and tonneau covers, it could be used with other accessories if desired. 
     While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, it to be understood that various changes and modifications could be made without departing form the scope of the invention.