Patent Publication Number: US-2021189793-A1

Title: Slat assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage of, and claims priority to, Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/AU2019/050497, filed on May 22, 2019, which application claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. AU2018901949, filed on May 31, 2018, which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Numerous types of truck bed covers are commonly used over the utility or cargo bed portion of a ute or pickup truck to secure and protect the bed including cargo items disposed therein. In particular, roll top covers generally include a motorized or mechanical drive system for operably covering and uncovering the top of an open cargo bed, truck box or the like by way of an extendable and retractable slat assembly. 
     Prior art roll top covers can suffer from a number of drawbacks. By way of example, such roll top covers may not be fully weather resistant and/or impervious to moisture and dust. Additionally, the frictional forces that are produced between individual slats during operation (i.e., opening and/or closing) of the roll top cover can be significant so as to make closing and/or opening difficult for a user. 
     Accordingly, an improved roll cover that overcomes one or more of the above disadvantages is required. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To assist in understanding the disclosure and to enable a person skilled in the art to put the disclosure into practical effect, description is provided by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top-down perspective view of a slat assembly included within a roll top cover suitably installed on a vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the slat assembly of  FIG. 1  as part of the roll top cover prior to installation on a vehicle; and 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an individual slat of the slat assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a top-down perspective view of an individual slat of the slat assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom-up perspective view of an individual slat of the slat assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  provides a side view of a number of interconnected slats of the slat assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure includes to a slat assembly of a roll cover for a cargo bed of a vehicle, such as pickup trucks and utility vehicles. Elements of the disclosure are illustrated in concise outline form in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are necessary to understand the disclosure, but so as not to provide excessive detail that will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present description. 
     In this specification, adjectives such as first and second, top and bottom, upwards and downwards, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one element or action from another element or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order. Words such as “comprises” or “includes” are intended to define a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a method or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed, including elements that are inherent to such a method or system. 
     According to a first aspect, although not necessarily the only aspect or the broadest aspect, the disclosure includes a slat assembly for a roll top cover comprising: 
     a plurality of successive and interconnected slats, each of the slats comprising opposed and adjoining first and second ends and upper and lower surfaces; 
     first and second hinge elements disposed at the respective first and second ends of each slat and integral therewith, the first and second hinge elements configured to define a hinge arrangement that facilitates relative pivotal movement between the slats; 
     wherein the slat assembly is operable between extended and retracted positions. 
     Suitably, the slat assembly further comprises a sealing member disposed within the first end of each of the slats and configured for underlying a junction defined by the respective first and second ends of the slats adjacent thereto. The first end of each of the slats may include a channel disposed between the upper surface and the first hinge element, the channel configured for receiving and securing the sealing member therein. 
     The second end of each of the slats may include a step portion configured to contact and abut an upper end portion of the sealing member of the slat adjacent thereto. 
     The sealing member may include one or a plurality of resiliently deformable ridges disposed thereon. 
     The first or second hinge element may include an arcuate hook portion extending outwardly from the respective first or second end of the slats. The first or second hinge element may also include a reciprocal arcuate channel for slidably and pivotably receiving the hook portion therein. 
     The slat assembly may include a stop element for limiting relative pivotal movement of the hook portion in a clockwise and/or anti-clockwise direction within the arcuate channel. The stop element extends upwardly from the lower surface of the slat and at least in part defines the arcuate channel. In this manner, the stop element may abut a portion of the hook portion when the slat assembly is in the extended and/or retracted positions. 
     In a second aspect, the disclosure incudes a roll top cover for operably covering the cargo bed of a vehicle, wherein the roll top cover comprises the slat assembly of the aforementioned aspect. 
     Particular advantages of the slat assembly include providing an improved sealing arrangement so as to be substantially weather resistant and/or impervious to the ingress of fluids, dust and the like therethrough and into the associated cargo bed of a vehicle. A further advantage resides in the provision of reduced frictional forces that are produced between individual slats during operation of the roll top cover so as to allow for easier and smoother opening and/or closing thereof. 
       FIGS. 1 to 6  illustrate a slat assembly  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the slat assembly  10  is configured for being a part of a roll top cover  1  for covering a cargo bed  110  of a vehicle  100 . The slat assembly  10  is specifically configured for movement between an open or retracted position and a closed or extended position, as illustrated by  FIG. 1 . 
     As can be observed in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 , the slat assembly  10  is constructed of a plurality of successive and interconnected slats  11 . The slats  11  may be made or constructed from any suitable material known in the art, including, but not limited to, metals such as aluminium (e.g., marine grade aluminium) and steel, and polymeric materials, such as plastics (e.g., reinforced plastics). To this end, the slats  11  are preferably of dimensions so as to be appropriately strong as well as light weight for the slat assembly  10 . The slat assembly  10  can include as many slats  11  as are required to cover various sizes of the cargo bed  110 , as are known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , each of the slats  11  has a first end  20  and a second end  30  that define a width  15  of the slat  11  therebetween and further define an axis a. The slats further include first and second sides  40 , 50  that define a length  45  of the slat  11  therebetween. The first and second sides  40 , 50  are both open ended to define a space therebetween. In this manner, each of the sides  40 , 50  is further capable of engaging a respective drive chain element  300  thereon so as to be operably connected to a drive chain track  401  of a side rail  400 . In addition, the first and second sides  40 , 50  are preferably substantially flattened or planar therealong. Such an arrangement, advantageously acts to reduce or minimise any gap or space between the sides  40 , 50  of the slat  11  and a respective portion of the side rail  400  when engaged thereto by way of the drive chain element  300  to minimise the likelihood of fluids, dust or the like migrating therebetween and/or splashing from a side rail guttering system  402  and into the cargo bed  110  of the vehicle  100 . This is in direct contrast to the curved side profiles present on prior art slats, which is a known shortcoming thereof. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , each of the plurality of slats  11  has a substantially flattened upper surface  60 . It will be appreciated that the upper surface  60  of the slats  11  need not necessarily be flattened or planar, but may be, for example, arcuate or domed in shape. An opposed lower surface  70  of the slats  11  further includes a flattened portion  71 . 
     From  FIG. 6 , the respective first and second ends  20 , 30  of adjacent slats  11  define a hinge arrangement  12  for operably interconnecting said adjacent slats  11 . In this manner, the slat assembly  11  is operable by way of the hinge arrangement  12  to move to the extended position in which the plurality of slats  11  are arranged so as have the respective upper surfaces  60  substantially flush theretogether and thereby define a substantially flattened or planar arrangement of the slats  11  of the slat assembly  10  (i.e., to restrict access to the underlying cargo bed  110 ), whilst also being operable for relative pivotal movement therebetween so as to attain a substantially curved or circular arrangement of the slat assembly  10 , which allows a user access to the cargo bed  110  thereunder (i.e., the retracted position). 
     In this regard, each first end  20  comprises a domed or arcuate latch or hook portion  21  that extends radially the length of the slat  11  and axially outwards therefrom. The second end  30  includes a tapered and arcuate channel  31  that also extends radially the length of the slat  11 , which is configured for matingly and pivotally receiving the respective hook portion  21  of the adjacent slat  11  therein. Advantageously, this arrangement of the arcuate channel  31  and the hook portion  21  allows for the secure engagement of the plurality of slats  11  theretogether. Further, the hook portion  21  and the arcuate channel  31  being integral with the slat  11  itself provides additional security and strength to the slat assembly  10  itself. Moreover, the mating engagement of the hook portion  21  with its respective arcuate channel  31  allows for the hinge arrangement  12  to be operable at low or reduced frictional forces during movement of the slat assembly  10  between the extended position and the retracted position and vice versa. 
     The hinge arrangement  12  is also configured to act as a mechanical hard end stop for the slat assembly  10  and by extension, each individual slat  11 , when in the extended position and the retracted position. In this regard, the second end  20  of each slat  11  includes an abutting element  27  that extends upwardly from the lower surface  70  thereof and that defines in part the arcuate channel  31 . During movement of the slat assembly  10  to the extended position, relative upward pivotal movement of the slat  11  translates to clockwise and relative pivotable and sliding movement of the respective hook portion  21  thereof within and into the arcuate channel  31  of the respective adjacent slat  11  until a point at which a distal or free end of the hook portion  21  contacts or abuts a base portion of the abutting element  27  at an end portion of the arcuate channel  31 . Conversely, movement of the slat assembly  10  to the retracted position provides for relative downward pivotal movement of the slat  11 , which results in anti-clockwise and relative pivotable and sliding movement of the respective hook portion  21  thereof within and out of the arcuate channel  31  of the respective adjacent slat  11  until a point at which a proximal end of the hook portion  21  contacts or abuts a concave stop portion  28  of the abutting element  27 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the plurality of slats  11  further include a U-shaped bracket or channel  22  disposed in the first end  20  between the upper surface  60  and the hook portion  21  so as to open axially therefrom. Disposed within the U-shaped channel  22  is a sealing member  25  that is dimensioned and positioned so as to substantially occupy the space defined thereby and extend outwardly therefrom. The U-shaped channel  22 , as well as the sealing member  25  disposed and frictionally secured therein, extend substantially the length of the slat  11  so as to provide a sealing arrangement therealong between adjacent slats  11 . 
     In this manner, the sealing member  25  is shown to abut a proximal end of the adjacent hook portion  21  and extends outwardly or axially from the overlying upper surface  60  to thereby define a stepped arrangement therewith. By virtue of this arrangement, the proximal end of the adjacent hook portion  21  acts to retain the sealing member  25  within the U-shaped channel  22 . As can be observed from  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the second end  30  of the slat  11  further includes a step portion  32  configured to contact and abut an upper end portion of the sealing member  25  of the respective adjacent slat  11  when in a substantially parallel and planar arrangement relative thereto (i.e., the extended position). 
     The present sealing member  25  advantageously imparts little or no effect on the operational forces required to move the slat assembly  10  between the extended position and the retracted position and vice versa. In this regard, the sealing member  25  simply underlies and abuts a junction  13  defined by the respective first and second ends  20 , 30  of adjacent slats  11  when the slat assembly  10  is in the extended position rather than also being operably involved in the hinge arrangement  12  therebetween. 
     In addition to the above, each sealing member  25  preferably includes one or more resiliently deformable ridges or projections (not shown) on an outer surface thereof to assist in sealing the junction  13  between adjacent slats  11 . To this end, the ridges or projections (not shown) are configured to deform so as to tolerate small imperfections (if any) in a surface of the U-shaped channel  22  and the step portion  32  when contacted therewith without compromising the function of the sealing member  25  with respect to effectively sealing the junction  13  between adjacent slats  11 . 
     It will be appreciated that the sealing member  25  may comprise any suitable material known in the art, including rubber materials of a suitable grade and shore hardness. Preferably, the material to be used for the sealing member  25  demonstrates adequate levels of fluid and/or chemical resistance as well as frost and heat resistance. Additionally, the material to be used for the sealing member  25  suitably demonstrates a requisite level of flammability and UV resistance as typically required for automotive applications. The sealing member  25  is substantially rectangular in shape and preferably includes one or more reinforcing elements  26 , such as reinforced metal particles (e.g. rods, particle strands, etc.) for adding a desired level of rigidity to the sealing member  25 . Additionally, the reinforcing elements  26  preferably act to reduce any variance in length of the sealing member  25  produced by, for example, temperature changes. The reinforcing elements  26  also suitably minimise the likelihood of the seal member  25  stretching as part of the cutting and assembly process for the slat assembly  10  described herein. 
     In addition to contributing to the overall security of the slat assembly  10 , the hinge arrangement  12  also contributes to the fluid and dust proofing thereof. By way of example, in the unlikely event that any fluid, dust or the like were to negotiate past the sealing member  25 , this foreign material would then be required to traverse, not one, but two upwardly curved profiles or portions of the hook portion  21  at respective proximal and distal ends thereof. It would be appreciated, that in such a situation, then the fluid, dust or the like would travel radially towards the respective first and second sides  40 , 50  of the slats  11  and into an adjacent side rail guttering system  402 . As a result of this arrangement, there is no direct pathway for fluid, dust or the like to migrate from outside of the slat assembly  10  through the hinge arrangement  12  and into the cargo bed  110  of the vehicle  100 . 
     The above description is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. As mentioned above, numerous alternatives and variations to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative features have been discussed specifically, other features will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosure is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications, and variations of the present disclosure that have been discussed herein, and others that fall within the spirit and scope of the above described disclosure.