Patent Publication Number: US-2003230909-A1

Title: Enclosure for a vehicle bed

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This present invention generally relates to vehicles enclosures. More particularly, the invention concerns an enclosure for a vehicle cargo area.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Trucks comprise the largest segment of the automotive market. Their popularity has increased with the popularity of sport utility vehicles (SUVs). This popularity has also spawned several hybrid or crossover vehicle designs that mix elements from both vehicle types. The cargo area in trucks and in some SUVs and hybrids is open and any items placed therein are exposed to the elements and to the risk of theft. Several different types of covers have been developed to enclose the open cargo area in these vehicles. These include canvas or other covers which are strapped, snapped or otherwise attached to the vehicle. However, snapping and unsnapping the multiple snaps is tedious and difficult, which discourages the use of the cargo area. Moreover, the snapped covers do not prevent theft, as they cannot be locked.  
       [0003] Sophisticated retractable covers that use a plurality of inter-locked articulating slats have been developed to provide security for the cargo area. These cover systems include rails that are attached to the vehicle for guiding the cover that is rolled into a canister when not in use. One shortcoming of these systems is that the installation of the rails to the vehicle requires the drilling of precisely located holes in the vehicle, thus permanently marring the vehicle and requiring a skill that is beyond that of the average vehicle owner.  
       [0004] Once installed, it is often desirable to position the cover in a position that may leave a section of the cargo area accessible. To achieve this intermediate positioning, some systems require that the cover be retracted completely into its canister and then deployed to the desired position. Other, more sophisticated systems include an electric motor, but usually, the vehicle must be running to provide the necessary electricity.  
       [0005] Therefore, there exists a need for a vehicle enclosure that can be easily installed by the average owner without the need to drill holes in the vehicle, and easily positioned in any location from completely retracted to fully extended.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] In order to overcome the deficiencies with known conventional vehicle enclosures, a retractable cover is provided. Briefly, the retractable cover includes a control assembly that allows for simple and convenient operation of the cover so that the cover can be positioned in a number of intermediate positions in the vehicle cargo area. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention includes a handle that is offset from a center line of the retractable cover that allows for convenient positioning of the retractable cover by a user who is standing alongside the vehicle cargo area. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a light that is mounted within the cargo area.  
       [0007] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from review of the following detailed description of the invention, along with the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008]FIG. 1 is a second perspective view of one embodiment of the retractable cover system constructed according to the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;  
     [0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of a canister and rail constructed according to the present inventions;  
     [0011]FIG. 4 is a perspective top view of the control assembly that is located at the end of the retractable cover system illustrated in FIG. 1; and  
     [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of the control assembly illustrated in FIG. 4.  
     [0013] It will be recognized that some or all of the Figures are schematic representations for purposes of illustration and do not necessarily depict the actual relative sizes or locations of the elements shown. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0014] In the following paragraphs, the present invention will be described in detail by way of example with reference to the attached drawings. Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than as limitations on the present invention. As used herein, the “present invention” refers to any one of the embodiments of the invention described herein, and any equivalents. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the “present invention” throughout this document does not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods must include the referenced feature(s).  
     [0015] In vehicles, such as pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), boats, or open-bed trailers, there are open areas that are exposed to the elements. It is often desirable to provide a cover over these areas to secure and protect items placed within them. The present invention provides a retractable cover that is easy to install so that the average vehicle owner can conveniently add the retractable cover to their vehicle. The present invention also includes a method for operating the cover so that the cover can be positioned in a plurality of locations ranging from completely retracted to fully extended and many positions therebetween. The present invention includes several features such as an off-set handle so that the vehicle owner can operate the cover while standing alongside the driver-side of the vehicle. In addition, a light may be provided so that the interior of the cargo area or truck bed can be illuminated.  
     [0016] The present invention can be installed on pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and hybrid and crossover vehicles that combine features found in passenger cars, trucks and SUVs, such as the CHEVROLET AVALANCHE (CHEVROLET and AVALANCHE are trademarks of the General Motors Corporation of Detroit, Mich.). The present invention may also be installed on open-bed trailers, and other types of recreational vehicles, such as boats. One embodiment of the present invention may be installed in the utility bed, or truck bed of a pickup truck. The utility bed is the open area located behind the truck cab that terminates at the truck tailgate. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a graspable handle may be employed, as shown in FIGS.  1 - 2  and  4 - 5 . The handle is offset from the center line  17  of the cover  15 . As defined herein, “offset” refers to a location that is not symmetric relative to the center line  17  of the cover  15 . For example, a handle that straddles the center line  17  so that a substantially equal amount of the handle is located on either side of the center line  17  would not be offset. Conversely, a handle positioned so that a substantially un-equal amount of the handle is on either side of the center line  17  would be offset. For example, a handle positioned so that the center of the handle is positioned 0.5 inch away from the center line  17  is offset.  
     [0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a retractable cover  10  is illustrated. The retractable cover  10  includes a cover  15  constructed from polymer or other suitable plastic that is attached to a plurality of substantially rectangular aluminum panels (not shown). The cover  15  retracts into the canister  20  by rolling about a spool or reel (not shown). The canister  20  includes a canister top  22  that is substantially flush-mounted at the front end of the truck bed  12 . Mounted on the canister  20  is a light  45  that is operated by a light switch  47  conveniently located on the driver-side of the truck bed  12  near the tailgate  42 . The light  45  illuminates the truck bed  12  and may be a halogen, fluorescent, incandescent, LED or any other type of suitable light. The light  45  may be located at any position on the canister  20  or may be located in another location in the truck bed  12 , such as on a side of the truck bed or located on the tailgate  42 . The light  45  may also be located on the control assembly  25 . An alternative embodiment of the present invention may employ more than one light  45 . For example, two lights  45  may be mounted on the canister  20  or one light  45  may be mounted on the canister  20  and one light may be mounted on the side of the truck bed  12 .  
     [0018] Referring to FIG. 3, a section of the canister  20  is illustrated. The canister  20  includes two grips  23  on each side of the canister  20 . The rail  50  includes a T-shaped section  54  (shown in FIGS. 3 and 6- 7 ) that slideably engages the canister grips  23 . The canister grips  23  act as channels for the rails  50  so that the canister  20  is suspended from the rails  50 . This feature allows for quick and easy installation of the canister  20  in the truck bed  12 . Another feature of the present invention is the canister top  22  that is mounted over the canister and directly contacts the rail top surface  56 . This allows the canister top  22  to have a flush profile that is visually attractive and minimizes aerodynamic drag.  
     [0019] Again referring to FIG. 3, another feature of the present invention is illustrated. Rail guide  53  extends from the rail  50  toward the interior of the canister  20 . In one embodiment of the invention, the rail guide  53  is machined, permitting the formation of the arc shape. Alternatively, the rail guide  53  may be extruded, or comprise a separate part that is attached to the rail  50 .  
     [0020] The rail guide  53  directs the cover  15  into and out of the canister  20  as the cover  15  is retracted into and extended out of the canister  20 . The rail guide  53  allows the cover  15  to be sufficiently retracted into the canister  20  so that the canister top  22  can positioned substantially flush with the rail top surface  56 . In contrast to conventional retractable cover systems, the rail guide  53  is incorporated in the rail  50  and thereby eliminates several parts, decreasing manufacturing costs while improving the aerodynamics of the cover, and again facilitating quick and easy installation of the retractable cover  10 .  
     [0021] Rails  50  are mounted alongside the truck bed  12  by clamps (not shown). The rails are secured to the truck bed  12  and provide a track in which the cover  15  slides. The rails  50  also include a plurality of notches  55  that are sized to engage with latches  85 . Alternatively, the rails  50  may be constructed to receive a stop strip that would include a plurality of notches  55  that are sized to engage with latches  85 . Yet another embodiment of the rails  50  would include projections rather than notches, with the projections sized to engage the latches  85 .  
     [0022] Illustrated in FIGS.  4 - 5  is the control assembly  25  located at the end of the cover  15 . The control assembly  25  includes several features that allow the cover  15  to be located at different positions along the truck bed  12  and which facilitate the easy operation of the retractable cover  10 . For example, the control assembly  25  includes an offset handle  30 . In a preferred embodiment, the offset handle  30  is located on the driver&#39;s side of the truck bed  12 . Specifically, the offset handle  30  is not located along the cover centerline  17 , but rather is offset towards the driver&#39;s side of the truck bed  12 . Alternative embodiments may position the offset handle  30  in other locations. For example, the offset handle  30  may be located near an edge of the cover  15  or may be located on the passenger side of the cover  15 . Alternatively, two offset handles  30  may be located on the control assembly  25 , with one offset handle  30  located on the driver side of the cover  15  and the second offset handle  30  located on the passenger side of the cover  15 . In a preferred embodiment, the handle  30  comprises a substantially rectangular shaped structure having an opening sized to receive the fingertips of an operator. Illustrated in FIG. 5, a handle bottom surface  32  is recessed about ¾-inch from the upper surface of the control assembly  25 . The width of the handle  30  is approximately 5 inches and is sized to comfortably receive the fingertips of an operator even if the operator is wearing gloves or mittens.  
     [0023] When fully extended, the cover  15  encloses the truck bed  12  and the control assembly  25  abuts the tailgate  42 . The cover  15  and control assembly  25  completely enclose the truck bed  12  creating an enclosed volume that comprises the entire area located underneath the cover  15  and the control assembly  25 , and the area located underneath the canister  20 . This enclosed volume is protected from the elements and when secured by lock  60 , objects placed in the enclosed volume are also protected from theft.  
     [0024] When the operator wishes to completely extend the cover  15  so that the control assembly  25  abuts the tailgate  42 , the operator pulls on the pull-strap  40  and draws the cover  15  toward the tailgate  42 . Alternatively, the operator may pull the cover  15  to the tailgate  42  by using the handle  30 . Latches  85  engage notches  55  that are located in rails  50  (or in stop strips that are located in the rails  50 ) completely enclosing the truck bed  12 . The cover  15  can then be securely locked by using the lock  60  which prevents the dial  35  from rotating. If the operator wishes to view the enclosed volume of the truck bed  12 , he can activate light  45  by using the light switch  47 . The light  45  is preferably located on the canister  20 , but may also be located in other locations such as along the sides of the truck bed  12  or on the control assembly  25 .  
     [0025] Again referring to FIGS.  4 - 5 , when an operator wishes to access the truck bed  12  by retracting the cover  15 , the operator turns the dial  35  which will retract the latches  85  into the control assembly  25 . The latches  85  are pulled into the control assembly  25  by the rotation of the pivot member  90 , which pulls on the links  92 . Extension springs  65  which urge the latches  85  away from the control assembly  25  are compressed as the latches  85  are pulled into the control assembly  25 . When the latches  85  are pulled into the control assembly  25 , the cover  15  is pulled towards the canister  20  by tension generated by the reel located in the canister  20 .  
     [0026] One feature of the present invention is that the cover  15  can be positioned in a location intermediate between the canister  20  and the tailgate  42  without first letting the cover  15  retract all the way forward to the canister  20 . Conventional retractable covers having locking mechanisms must be retracted to the canister, which releases the latches, thereby allowing the cover to be pulled toward the tailgate into a specific position. This tedious extra step is eliminated by the present invention which can be released at the tailgate  42  and then directly locked into a position intermediate between the canister  20  and the tailgate  42 .  
     [0027] First, the cover  15  is unlocked by rotating the dial  35  clockwise, which causes the pivot member  90  to also rotate, pulling the latches  85  into the control assembly  25 . Specifically, the control assembly  25  includes two latches  85  that are connected to the dial  35  by a pivot member  90  that is connected to two links  92 . One link  92  slidingly engages one latch  85  while a second link  92  is pivotably coupled to a translation member  95  that slidingly engages latch  85 . Once the latches  85  are pulled into the control assembly  25 , the cover  15 , sliding on rails  50 , is pulled toward the canister  20  by tension created by the reel located in the canister  20 . As shown in FIG. 2, each rail  50  includes several notches  55  that are sized to engage with the latches  85 , or as discussed above, a stop strip may be positioned in each rail  50 , with the stop strip containing either notches  55 , or projections sized to engage the latches  85 .  
     [0028] Referring to FIGS.  4 - 5 , to engage the latches  85  with the notches  55 , the operator pulls on pull-strap  40 , which slides in cover plate slot  80 . Pull-strap  40  is coupled to the actuator  74  by a fastener or other suitable device that extends through the cover plate  75  into the actuator  74 . The actuator  74  includes a projection  76  that is forced by the compression springs  70  into the foot  84  of the L-shaped notch  82 . When the projection  76  is located in the foot  84 , the translation member  95  is fixed in position and the latches  85  remain retracted in the control assembly  25 . By pulling on the pull-strap  40 , the projection  76  moves in slot  80  and is pulled out of the foot  84 , releasing the translation member  95 , and moving the projection  76  into the body  86  of the L-shaped notch  82 . The translation member  95  is urged by translation spring  72  to move, and as the translation member  95  moves, the dial  35  rotates counter-clockwise, which rotates pivot member  90  counter-clockwise, which releases latches  85  so that they project out of the control assembly  25 .  
     [0029] Simply put, by pulling on the pull-strap  40 , the latches  85  are released, thereby permitting them to engage with notches  55  located in the rails  50 . The latches include an angled surface so as to allow the cover  15  to be pulled towards the tailgate  42  without catching in the notches  55 .  
     [0030] To position the cover  15  in a position intermediate between the canister  20  and the tailgate  42 , first, the operator rotates the dial  35  clockwise, thereby retracting the latches  85  into the control assembly  25 . Tension created by the reel located in the canister  20  now pulls the cover  15  toward the canister  20 . The operator then grasps the pull-strap  40  and positions the cover  15  in its desired location. The operator then lightly jerks the pull-strap  40  which releases the latches  85  as described above, permitting them to engage with notches  55 . One feature of the present invention is that the cover  15  can be securely positioned in several different locations intermediate of the canister  20  and tailgate  42 . Advantageously, this operation can be performed from the rear of the vehicle, adjacent to the tailgate  42 . This contrasts with conventional cover systems that must be either operated from the front of the truck bed or require the cover to be retracted to the truck cab before it can be locked into an intermediate position.  
     [0031] Thus, it is seen that an apparatus and method for enclosing cargo areas, such as a pickup truck bed, is provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the above-described embodiments, which are presented in this description for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. The description and examples set forth in this specification and associated drawings only set forth preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention. The specification and drawings are not intended to limit the exclusionary scope of this patent document. Many designs other than the above-described embodiments will fall within the literal and/or legal scope of the following claims, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow. It is noted that various equivalents for the particular embodiments discussed in this description may practice the invention as well.