Patent Publication Number: US-11648832-B2

Title: Truck cap

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/086,857, filed on Nov. 2, 2020, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 11,279,213 on Mar. 22, 2022 and the present application relates to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 62/930,428, filed on Nov. 4, 2019. The subject matter disclosed in those applications is hereby expressly incorporated into the present Application in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to trucks such as pickup trucks, and truck beds used on pickup trucks and like vehicles, and, in particular, a truck bed cap with improved features and design. 
     A truck bed cap is an enclosure that attaches to the top sidewalls of a pickup truck&#39;s cargo box or truck bed. The truck cap includes upward extending side and forward walls, and a door typically positioned at the rearward end above the truck bed&#39;s tailgate (although the door can be placed anywhere on the cap). Typically, the upward extending walls terminate at the approximate height of the pickup truck&#39;s cab section roof. This configuration enhances the pickup truck&#39;s aesthetic appearance similar to a sport utility vehicle (SUV). Embodiments of a truck cap are shown and described in US Patent Publication No. 2020/0130485, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     An illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a truck cap that sits on opposing sidewalls and over the top of a cargo box of a pickup truck. The truck cap comprises: a cap body having an opening; a cap door that is movable between open and closed positions with respect to the opening of the cap body; at least one truck cap door hinge that attaches to the cap body and the cap door of the truck cap; wherein the at least one truck cap door hinge includes: a first hinge bracket member and a second hinge bracket member; the first hinge bracket member is bent at an obtuse angle to form first and second angled portions separated by a vertex there between; the first angled portion of the first hinge bracket member includes a hinge bracket located at a position opposite the vertex; at least one pivot pin; the hinge bracket of the first angled portion includes at least one opening sized to receive at least a portion of the at least one pivot pin; the second angled portion of the first hinge bracket member includes a flange that extends substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the at least one pivot pin; the flange of the second angled portion includes a pin extending therefrom; the second hinge bracket member includes spaced apart first and second sidewalls each of which extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the at least one pivot pin; the second hinge bracket member includes a first pin located on the first sidewall of the second hinge bracket member and directed toward the second sidewall of the second hinge bracket member; the second hinge bracket member includes a second pin located on the second sidewall of the second hinge bracket member and directed toward the first sidewall of the second hinge bracket member; the second hinge bracket member includes a hinge bracket located adjacent an end of the second hinge bracket member; the hinge bracket of the second hinge bracket member includes at least one opening sized to receive at least a portion of the at least one pivot pin; at least a portion of the hinge bracket of the first hinge bracket member is located adjacent at least a portion of the hinge bracket of the second hinge bracket member such that the first hinge bracket member and the second hinge bracket member are pivotable with respect to each other about the at least one pivot pin; and a longitudinally extending gas prop pivotably attached to the first and second pins of the second hinge bracket member and pivotably attached to the pin on the flange of the second angled portion of the first hinge bracket member; the longitudinally extending gas prop is extendable approximately parallel to at least a portion of the first angled portion of the first hinge bracket member. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a truck cap that sits on opposing sidewalls and over the top of a cargo box of a pickup truck. The truck cap comprises: a cap body having an opening; a cap door that is movable between open and closed positions with respect to the opening of the cap body; at least one truck cap door hinge that attaches to the cap body and the cap door of the truck cap; wherein the at least one truck cap door hinge includes: a first hinge bracket member and a second hinge bracket member; the first hinge bracket member is bent at an obtuse angle to form first and second angled portions separated by a vertex there between; the first angled portion of the first hinge bracket member includes a hinge bracket; at least one pivot pin; the hinge bracket of the first angled portion includes at least one opening sized to receive at least a portion of the at least one pivot pin; the first hinge bracket member includes a pin extending from the second angled portion; the second hinge bracket member includes at least one pin; the second hinge bracket member includes a hinge bracket; the hinge bracket of the second hinge bracket member includes at least one opening sized to receive at least a portion of the at least one pivot pin; the first hinge bracket member and the second hinge bracket member are pivotable with respect to each other about the at least one pivot pin; and a longitudinally extending gas prop pivotably attached to the pin extending from the second angled portion of the first hinge bracket member and to the at least one pin of the second hinge bracket member. 
     In the above and other embodiments, the at least one truck cap door hinge of the truck cap may further comprise: the hinge bracket of the first angled portion of the first hinge bracket member is located at a position opposite the vertex; the second angled portion of the first hinge bracket member includes a flange that extends substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the at least one pivot pin; the pin extends from the flange of the second angled portion; the second hinge bracket member has spaced apart first and second sidewalls, each of which extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the at least one pivot pin; the at least one pin of the second hinge bracket member is located on the first sidewall of the second hinge bracket member and directed toward the second sidewall of the second hinge bracket member; the second hinge bracket member having a second pin located on the second sidewall of the second hinge bracket member and directed toward the first sidewall of the second hinge bracket member; the hinge bracket of the second hinge bracket member is located adjacent to an end of the second hinge bracket member; at least a portion of the hinge bracket of the first hinge bracket member is located adjacent to at least a portion of the hinge bracket of the second hinge bracket member; the longitudinally extending gas prop is pivotably attached to the at least one pin and the second pin of the second hinge bracket member and pivotably attached to the pin that extends from the flange of the second angled portion of the first hinge bracket member; and the longitudinally extending gas prop is extendable approximately parallel to at least a portion of the first angled portion of the first hinge bracket member. 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a truck cap that sits on opposing sidewalls and over the top of a cargo box of a pickup truck. The truck cap comprises: a cap body having an opening; a cap door that is movable between open and closed positions with respect to the opening of the cap body; at least one truck cap door hinge that attaches to the cap body and the cap door of the truck cap; wherein the at least one truck cap door hinge includes: a first hinge bracket member and a second hinge bracket member; the first hinge bracket member includes a hinge bracket; at least one pivot pin; the hinge bracket of the first hinge bracket member includes at least one opening sized to receive at least a portion of the at least one pivot pin; the first hinge bracket member includes a pin extending there from; the second hinge bracket member includes at least one pin; the second hinge bracket member includes a hinge bracket; the hinge bracket of the second hinge bracket member includes at least one opening sized to receive at least a portion of the at least one pivot pin; the first hinge bracket member and the second hinge bracket member are pivotable with respect to each other about the at least one pivot pin; and a longitudinally extending gas prop pivotably attached to the pin extending from the second angled portion of the first hinge bracket member and to the at least one pin of the second hinge bracket member. 
     In the above and other embodiments, the at least one truck cap door hinge of the truck cap may further comprise: the first hinge bracket member is bent at an obtuse angle to form first and second angled portions separated by a vertex there between; the hinge bracket is located on the first angled portion of the first hinge bracket member; the hinge bracket of the first angled portion of the first hinge bracket member is located at a position opposite the vertex; the hinge bracket of the first angled portion includes the at least one opening sized to receive the at least the portion of the at least one pivot pin; the first hinge bracket member includes the pin extending from the second angled portion; and the longitudinally extending gas prop is extendable approximately parallel to at least a portion of the first angled portion of the first hinge bracket member. 
     Additional features and advantages of the truck bed cap features will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed descriptions of carrying out the truck bed cap features as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The concepts described in the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity, and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference labels may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a truck cap; 
         FIG.  2    is a front perspective view of the truck cap; 
         FIG.  3    is a left side elevational view of the truck cap; 
         FIG.  4    is a right side elevational view of the truck cap; 
         FIG.  5    is another left side elevational view of the truck cap with the door located in an open position; 
         FIG.  6    is a rear perspective view of the truck cap with the door located in the open position; 
         FIG.  7    is another rear perspective view of the truck cap with the door located in the open position; 
         FIG.  8    is a rear view of the truck cap with the door located in the open position; 
         FIG.  9    is a rear view of the truck cap with the door removed; 
         FIG.  10    is a top perspective view of the truck cap with the door removed; 
         FIG.  11    is a rear perspective view of the truck cap with the door removed; 
         FIG.  12 A  is a front perspective view of a truck cap door hinge; 
         FIG.  12 B  is a rear perspective view of the truck cap door hinge; 
         FIG.  13 A  is a perspective view of the truck cap door hinge in a folded position; 
         FIG.  13 B  is a top perspective view of the truck cap door hinge in the folded position; 
         FIG.  13 C  is a top view of the truck cap door hinge in the folded position; 
         FIG.  13 D  is a rear view of the truck cap door hinge in the folded position; 
         FIG.  14 A  is a perspective view of the truck cap door hinge in an unfolded position; 
         FIG.  14 B  is a top perspective view of the truck cap door hinge in the unfolded position; 
         FIG.  14 C  is a top view of the truck cap door hinge in the unfolded position; 
         FIG.  14 D  is a rear view of the truck cap door hinge in the unfolded position; 
         FIG.  15    is a rear perspective view of the truck cap with a video monitor lowered from the truck cap to its use position; 
         FIG.  16    is a rear view of the truck cap with the video monitor lowered from the truck cap to its use position; 
         FIG.  17    is a side view of the truck cap with the video monitor lowered from the truck cap to its use position; 
         FIG.  18    is an underside view of the truck cap with a video screen mount assembly lowered from the truck cap to its use position; 
         FIG.  19    is another underside view of the truck cap with the video screen mount assembly raised to its stowed position; 
         FIG.  20    is another underside view of the truck cap with the video screen mount assembly spaced apart from the truck cap; 
         FIG.  21    is another underside view of the truck cap with the audio system spaced apart from the truck cap; 
         FIG.  22    is an isolated perspective view of the video screen mount assembly configured in its use position; 
         FIG.  23    is an isolated perspective view of the video screen mount assembly configured in its stowed position; and 
         FIG.  24    is a n exploded perspective view of the audio system. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the truck bed cap features, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the truck bed cap features in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein described devices, systems, and methods, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical devices, systems, and methods. Those of ordinary skill may recognize that other elements and/or operations may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. Because such elements and operations are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements and operations may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure includes a new truck bed cap design that includes a resin transfer molded (RTM) rear door. The new door assembly is a one-piece-looking door. This design takes the spoiler and the door skirt and combines them into a singular piece that can be used in combination with additional hardware to create the rear door. The RTM process includes a vacuum to pull the resin material into a closed mold cavity, the material then bonds with the fiberglass fibers and pads that are in there to create a solid door with a class A surface on both sides. The fiberglass shell itself was designed so it is essentially in line or flush with the outside surface of the glass to get a wraparound look. And then with a dual painting process a full glass look is created. The RTM rear door combines the spoiler and the door skirt with connecting materials so that it is built to look like one solid piece. Fasteners may be bonded to the glass. This allows removal of a couple of different bolts and the glass can be repaired or replaced if needed enhancing serviceability. There is no high-visible exterior hardware—no handles, no locks, no hinges—showing. Illustratively, there may be a small plastic cap that can be moved to reveal a mechanical lock underneath for manual operation. 
     A perspective view of truck cap  2  is shown in  FIG.  1   . Truck cap  2  includes downward depending sidewalls  4  and  6  and a door  8  illustratively located at the rear end of truck cap  2 . Pillars  10  and  12  bound the sides of door  8 . A spoiler section  14 , which includes an illustrative back brake light  16  occupies the upper portion of door  8 . Also according to this illustrative embodiment, depressions  18  and  20  are shown located at seam  22  between top portion  24  of spoiler section  14  and roof panel  26  of truck cap  2 . At the lower end of door  8  is door skirt  28  adjacent to window portion  30  of door  8 . 
     Part of each of sidewalls  4  and  6  are cap windows  32  and  34  (see,  FIG.  3   ). In this illustrative embodiment, cap windows  32  and  34  occupy a substantial portion of sidewalls  4  and  6 , respectively. 
     A front perspective view of truck cap  2  is shown in  FIG.  2   . This view similarly shows door  8  having spoiler section  14  on top, and depressions  18  and  20  at seam  22 . Pillar  10  and front wall  36  of sidewall  4  are also shown. A distinction between views is front wall  36  located at the forward end of truck cap  2  shown in  FIG.  2   . Front window  38  is shown occupying a substantial portion of front wall  36 . 
       FIGS.  3  and  4    are left side and right side elevational views of truck cap  2 , respectively. These views show sidewalls  4  and  6  with cap windows  32  and  34 , respectively. Depending from roof panel  26  are pillars  10  and  12  shown upwardly extending between each of cap windows  32 ,  34 , and door  8 . Spoiler section  14  extends outwardly at the upper portion of door  8 . Door skirt  28  is located at the lower periphery of door  8  opposite spoiler section  14 . In this illustrative embodiment, seam  22  is shown extending not only between roof panel  26  and spoiler section  14 , but also between cap windows  32  and  34  and corresponding pillars  10  and  12 . 
     Side elevational, left perspective, and right perspective views of truck cap  2  with door  8  pivoted upwardly in its open position are shown in  FIGS.  5 ,  6 , and  7   . As appreciated by these views, the majority of door  8  is composed of window portion  30  bounded at the top by spoiler section  14  and at the bottom by door skirt  28 . Hinges  40  and  42  (see, also,  FIGS.  12 A and  12 B ) are located adjacent to pillars  10  and  12 , respectively, and are recessed back toward seam  22  (see, also,  FIG.  9   ). Further shown in these views are back brake light  16 , cap windows  32  and  34  of sidewalls  4  and  6 , respectively, and roof panel  26 . 
     A rear view of truck cap  2  with door  8  extended upward in its open position (like that shown in  FIGS.  5 ,  6 , and  7   ) are also shown in  FIG.  8   . Cap opening  15  is revealed when cap door  8  is open. This view also shows door skirt  28  affixed to window portion  30 , which is attached to spoiler section  14 . This view also shows pillars  10  and  12  extending upwardly at the rear periphery of truck cap  2 . 
     Another rear view of truck cap  2  but this time with door  8  removed is shown in  FIG.  9   . At the upper rear portion of truck cap  2  adjacent to roof panel  26  are hinge ports  46  and  48 , respectively. An illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a water management system that mitigates the risk of water entering seam  22  and migrating into cap opening  15 , thereby leaking into the truck bed. In this illustrative embodiment, during construction of truck cap  2 , the water management is molded into the body. In this case, if water does seep into truck cap  2  at seam  22 , the water will be directed away from cap opening  15  and follows a flow path to exit towards the bottom of truck cap  2 . As shown in this view, at seam  22  there is an upper seal  50 . This creates a sealing means between the top portion of seam  22  and cap door  8 . Additionally, there is a door seal  52  located about the periphery of the cap opening  15  of truck cap  2 . This seal on truck cap  2  engages the interior of cap door  8  in order to create a sealing means between those two structures. As a contingency, however, around the periphery of door seal  52  is a trough  54  that extends the width of truck cap  2 . 
     Trough  54  is a channel-like feature that collects any water that rolls from roof panel  26  at seam  22  towards cap opening  15 . This may occur if cap door  8  is positioned upwardly in its open position. In this illustrative embodiment, the upper shelf  56  is formed at the top end of the rear portion of truck cap  2 . Upper shelf  56  includes a compound crown that will direct water towards its periphery and into trough  54 . There the water can drain to outlets  58  or  60  at the periphery of trough  54  towards the lower rear portion of truck cap  2 . 
     A top perspective view of the rear portion of truck cap  2  is shown in  FIG.  10   . Here is depicted seam  22  of roof panel  26  with upper seal  50  extending a portion there across. This view also shows hinge ports  46  and  48 . Cap door seal  52  is shown lining the periphery of cap opening  15 . Trough  54  lines door seal  52  as illustratively shown. If water, as shown by directional arrows  62  and  64 , migrates past seam  22  and onto upper shelf  56 , the water is directed toward the sides of truck cap  2  and into trough  54 . Water on one side will be directed towards trough  54  is indicated by directional arrows  62  and water on the other side of roof panel  26  will be directed towards the side and flow into trough  54  as indicated by directional arrows  64 . In both cases, the water is then permitted to exit at outlets  58  and  60  located towards the bottom of truck cap  2 . With this water management, water can be substantially prevented from entering the truck bed through cap opening  15  if draining from roof panel  26 . 
     In the rear perspective view shown in  FIG.  11   , it is evident how roof panel  26  of truck cap  2  is crowned so that water drains towards the sides as indicated by directional arrows  66  and  68 . Likewise, upper shelf  56  is crowned so that water will drain into trough  54 . 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure includes a hinge system that pivots cap door  8  between opened and closed positions. The hinge design may incorporate gas props that assist in opening cap door  8 . The hinge design may include a first bracket that bolts to cap door  8 , and a second bracket that bolts to hinge ports  46  and  48  above the cap pillars adjacent to seam  22  (see  FIG.  9   ). Door hinge  40  is shown in front and rear perspective views in  FIGS.  12 A and  12 B . Hinge  40  includes a first bracket member  102  and a second bracket member  104  connected together via pivot pin  106 . It is notable in this illustrative embodiment that first bracket member  102  is not identically shaped or symmetrical with second hinge bracket member  104 . In particular, the length of second hinge bracket member  104  from end  108  to pivot bracket  110  is shorter than the length from pivot bracket  112  on first hinge bracket member  102  up to its end  114 . This is because either pivot pins  116  or  118  on sidewalls  120  or  122 , respectively, are configured to pivotably receive one end of extending gas prop  128  (see,  FIG.  13 A ) which is also pivotably attached to pin  124  on flange or side bracket  126  located upwardly on first hinge bracket member  102 . 
     Gas props are longitudinally moving air-powered arms that extend when an initial force is applied to a movable structure. Such gas props are widely used in the truck and automobile industries. Typically, however, such gas props are attached to a doorjamb at one end and a pivoting door at the other end. In this instance, however, both ends of the longitudinally extending gas prop are attached to opposing sides of a hinge itself. The difference in length between first hinge bracket member  102  and second hinge bracket member  104  is based on the characteristics of the door that is intended to be opened. It is appreciated that such lengths may be varied depending on the needs for a particular door. Illustratively, first hinge bracket member  102  may attach to the inside of cap door  8  and second hinge bracket member  104  may attach to the wall structure adjacent to seam  22 . When cap door  8  is opened it pivots on pivot pin  106  at seam  22  while gas prop  128  assists in movement. 
     Various perspective views of hinge  40  are shown in  FIGS.  13 A- 13 D and  14 A- 14 D . The side view of bracket  40  shown in  FIG.  13 A  depicts a gas prop  128  attached to pin  124  on side bracket  126 . Gas prop  128  is also attached onto sidewalls  120  and  122  of second hinge bracket member  104 . Particularly, gas prop  128  pivotably attaches to pins  116  or  118 . This means gas prop  128  is pivotably attached to both first hinge bracket member  102  and second hinge bracket member  104 . First hinge bracket member  102  is shown divided into a first angled portion  130  and a second angled portion  132 . A vertex  134  is positioned there between forming an obtuse angle between first angled portion  130  and second angled portion  132 . Pivot bracket  110  extending from first angled portion  130  receives pivot pin  106  in flanges  135  and  136  located adjacent to flanges  137  and  138  of pivot bracket  110  of second hinge bracket member  104  (see, also,  FIGS.  13 B and  13 D ). Pivot pin  106  is also received in flanges  137  and  138 . As notably shown in  FIGS.  13 D and  14 D  pivot pin  106  forms an axis of rotation  144  about which first and second hinge bracket members  102  and  104 , respectively, pivot. 
     In the illustrative embodiment, and as shown in both  FIGS.  13 A and  14 A , gas prop  128  remains generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of first angled portion  130  as indicated by distance  139 . It is further appreciated that in other embodiments, gas prop  128  may not necessarily be parallel with a longitudinal extent of first angle portion  130  but may maintain a substantially consistent distance also represented by distance  139  despite hinge  40  being located in either an open or closed position. This allows a variety of hinge bracket member configurations to swing a cap door between open and closed positions by only linearly extending or retracting gas prop  128  on hinge  40  (compare  FIGS.  13 A and  14 A ). 
     The additional views in  FIGS.  13 B,  13 C,  14 B and  14 C  illustrate how linear extension and retraction of gas prop  128  attached to each side of hinge  40  pivots same between its closed position (see, also,  FIG.  13 A ) and its open position (see, also,  FIG.  14 A ). It is appreciated that bores  140  disposed through second hinge bracket member  104  are configured to receive fasteners to attach second hinge bracket member  104  to the cap whereas bores  141  of second angled portion  132  of first hinge bracket member  102  are configured to receive other fasteners to attach first hinge bracket member  102  to cap door  8  (see  FIGS.  13 B,  13 C,  13 D,  14 B,  14 C, and  14 C ). It is further appreciated that hinge  42  may illustratively be identical or a mirror image version of hinge  40 . 
     Another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a ceiling-mounted audio/video system. In the illustrative embodiments there are no fasteners penetrating through the cap roof. Lamination plates are formed onto the substrate of the cap ceiling that may attach to the systems. It is contemplated that a video monitor mount may be motorized to extend or retract same between use and stowed positions. It is further contemplated that additional devices may connect to the video monitor, such as cable TV lines, antennas, and other like inputs/outputs. Anything a home entertainment system can attach to may be attached to the video monitor. These attachments may also be made without any visible hardware such as fasteners attached to the audio/video mounting system from outside of the tuck cap. 
     A perspective view of truck cap  2  with door  8  located in the open position and a video display  252  lowered to a use position within cap  2  is shown in  FIG.  15   . Illustratively, it is contemplated that video display  252  may be moved between a stowed position and a use position. As shown here, video display  252  occupies at least a portion of cap opening  15  between pillars  10  and  12  and under either or both roof panel  26  and/or spoiler section  14 . This allows viewing of video display  252  outside of the truck cap  2 . 
     A rear view of truck cap  2  with door  8  raised to its open position with video display  252  lowered to its use position at cap opening  15  is shown in  FIG.  16   . With door  8  raised, video display  252  may be viewed from outside of truck cap  2  while being supported from ceiling  268  via video screen mount assembly  254 . If video display  252  is not desired to be used, it can be lifted and slid upwardly underneath ceiling  268  remaining out of the way allowing more use of the interior of truck cap  2  (see, also,  FIGS.  8  and  19   ). Having the versatility of stowing video display  252  at the ceiling area of truck cap  2  (see, also,  FIG.  19   ) most of the space available within the truck bed and cap may still be used without interference from video display  252 . 
     A side view of truck cap  2  with door  8  located at its upward open position is shown in  FIG.  17   . In this view, through cap window  32  on sidewall  4  a portion of video screen mount assembly  254  is visible, including telescoping sliders  256  and  258  supporting pivot mount brackets  260  and  261  (see, also,  FIG.  22   ). A screen mounting bracket  262  may be located behind video display  252  for supporting same. As shown herein, telescoping sliders  256  and  258  may extend at a downward, illustratively, acute angle from roof panel  26 . Video display  252  supported by screen mounting bracket  262  may then be positioned vertically to allow access and viewing. In this illustrative embodiment, the downward angle of telescoping sliders  256  and  258  allow the top of video display  252  to not be obscured by door  8  (see, also,  FIG.  16   ). It will be appreciated by the skilled artisan upon reading this disclosure that the downward slope of the components of video screen mount assembly  254  may vary as needed to create a desired viewing position of video display  252  with respect to other structures within cap  2 . 
     An underside perspective view of truck cap  2  with video screen mount assembly  254  extending video display  252  to its lowered use position is shown in  FIG.  18   . A rafter array  264  is attached to plates  266  which are attached to ceiling  268  of roof panel  26 . Fasteners attach rafter array  264  to plate  266  to hold video screen mount assembly  254  in place. In an illustrative embodiment, jack nuts may be inserted into plates  266  which are attached to ceiling  268  during manufacture of truck cap  2 . The result is threaded bores located at ceiling  268  can receive fasteners to secure rafter array  264  to ceiling  268 . As such, no fasteners extend through roof panel  26 . A tray  270  is movable with pivot mount brackets  260  and  261  (see  FIG.  22   ) to provide a support surface for video display  252  when stowed adjacent to rafter array  264 . It is appreciated that tray  270  may be retractable on telescoping sliders  256  and  258  to extend and retract between use and stowed positions. Tray  270  is located in its extended position so that video display  252  may be pulled there from, and pivoted downward to the use position, as shown. 
     Another underside perspective view of truck cap  2  with door  8  upwardly extended in its open position and including video screen mount assembly  254  is shown in  FIG.  19   . As shown herein, tray  270  with video display  252  supported thereon is now retracted adjacent to rafter array  264  to a stowed position. It can be appreciated from this view how video display  252 , lifted up adjacent to ceiling  268  of truck cap  2 , keeps video display  252  out-of-the-way allowing space inside the truck bed and cap to be utilized for other purposes. It is further appreciated that screen mounting bracket  262  attached to the back of video display  252  includes a latch that may be selectively released from tray  270  such that it may be pulled at an angle moving video display  252  on tray  270  towards cap opening  15  and the use position. This movement may be accomplished either manually or mechanically. 
     Also shown in this view is an illustrative audio system  274  that may be used in conjunction with or independently of video display  252 . It is appreciated that audio system  274  may be attached to plate  266  similar to that of video screen mount assembly  254 . In particular, audio system  274  may be attached such that there are no bolts, screws or other fastening structures extending up through ceiling  268  and roof panel  26 . Again, jack nuts may be used in plates  266  to receive other bolts or fasteners to attach audio system  274  to ceiling  268 . 
     A partially exploded view of truck cap  2  with door  8  located in its upward open position and with video screen mount assembly  254  separated there from, is shown in  FIG.  20   . In this case, video screen mount assembly  254  includes video display  252  retracted with screen mounting bracket  262  and tray  270  located in their stowed position adjacent to rafter array  264 . A plurality of plates  266  are shown attached to ceiling  268  inside truck cap  2  opposite roof panel  26 . It is appreciated that such plates  266  may be laminations that are fixed in place during the molding process of truck cap  2 . Plates  266  may be arranged in any fashion to allow embedded jack nuts or other threaded or tactical bores to attach to structures such as audio system  274  and/or video screen mount assembly  254 . By providing plates  266  into the molded structure of ceiling  268 , any myriad of devices, may be attached thereto without resorting to drilling through the entire thickness of roof panel  26 . Here, the locations of plates  266  are arranged so as to fasten to rafter array  264  in order to secure video screen mount assembly  254  to ceiling  268  of truck cap  2 . 
     During manufacture of truck cap  2 , plates  266  may be installed at the time the fiberglass structure of truck cap  2  is formed. Plates  266  sit on top of an illustrative tri-cell core (i.e., honeycomb-type structure) substrate. When a pilot hole for the jack nut is drilled, the drill makes its way into the core which provides sufficient clearance under roof panel  26 . When the jack nut is inserted, it passes through a headliner, ceiling  268 , plate  266 , and into the core. When the jack nut is collapsed, its wings rest on plate  266 . The fastener (i.e., bolt or screw) is then used to secure the audio/video components to plate  266 . The fasteners are long enough to pass through the plate  266 , headliner, etc., engage the jack nut, and occupy a portion of the void in the core, but short enough not to engage roof panel  26 . 
     Another underside perspective view of truck cap  2  with door  8  raised to its upward open position is shown in  FIG.  21   . In this view, video screen mount assembly  254  is attached to various plates  266  on ceiling  268 . Audio system  274 , however, is shown separated from truck cap  2  so as to reveal additional plates  266  positioned towards the rear of ceiling  268 . These plates provide the fastening substrate for audio system  274 . Again, audio system  274 , like video screen mount assembly  254 , may be fastened to jack nuts embedded in plates  266  of ceiling  268  without those fasteners extending through roof panel  26  of truck cap  2 . 
     An isolated perspective view of video screen mount assembly  254  is shown in  FIG.  22   . In this view, video screen mount assembly  254  is configured in its use position. Screen mounting bracket  262  is pulled from tray  270  and pivoted downward. It is appreciated that mount holes  276  are placed in strategic locations to attach a video display to screen mounting bracket  262 . A cut-out  278  in screen mounting bracket  262  offers access to various inputs and outputs that may be employed with any particular type of video display. Latch  272  releases screen mounting bracket  262  from tray  270  to move same to the use position. Pivot pins  280  and  282  are disposed through both bracket sides  284  and  286  of screen mounting bracket  262 , respectively. Pivot pins  280  and  282  are also disposed through slots  288  and  290 , respectively, of pivot mount brackets  260  and  261  of tray  270 . As such, screen mounting bracket  262  may be pivoted in direction  291  to lift it and video display  252  level with tray  270  and then pushed in direction  292  to slide pivot pins  280  and  282  within slots  288  and  290 , respectively, to place screen mounting bracket  262 , along with video display  252  onto tray  270 . After that, tray  270  may either be manually or mechanically moved in direction  292  as well towards the stowed position. 
     Also shown in  FIG.  22   , is motor assembly  294  that actuates a gear box to rotate a longitudinally extending worm gear  296  that extends from motor assembly  294  and attaches to rafter array  264 . Worm gear  296  engages tray  270  to retract and extend it in directions  292  or  293 . In the illustrative embodiment, rafter array  264  includes side brackets  295  that support telescoping slides  256  and  258 . A plurality of attachment panels  297  provide an attaching structure to fasten onto plates  266  in ceiling  268 . Various crossbeams  298  may be employed between side brackets  295  for purposes of adding structural stability as well. Rafter array  264  may also be an attaching structure for other components. Illustratively, a remote control  299  may be attached to truck cap  2  to actuate motor assembly  294  via wirelessly or wired connection. 
     Another perspective view of video screen mount assembly  254  is shown in  FIG.  23   . This view depicts video screen mount assembly  254  in its stowed position. As such, pivot mounts  260  and  261  are recessed back toward rafter array  264 , either manually or via motor assembly  294 . Pivot pins  280  and  282  have been moved in direction  292  so screen mounting bracket  262  is supported on tray  270  for keeping video display on tray  270  when in a stowed condition. Latch  272  a spring-loaded lever that rotates to one side allowing the lever to clear a pin. Once this is cleared, screen mounting bracket  262  may slide further forward to its final location and then rotate down to the viewing position. It is further contemplated in the illustrative embodiments that power and audio/video cables (not shown) may be housed in a flexible track or like conduit. The flexible track or conduit is bendable between inputs on video display  252 /audio system  274  and a power source or other audio/video connectors on the cap or truck when tray  270  is moved in either directions  292  or  293 . 
     A perspective exploded view of audio system  274  is shown in  FIG.  24   . A bracket member  306  is configured with various attachment flanges such as attachment flanges  303  in order to fasten onto plates  266  (see, also,  FIG.  21   ). Various components of audio system  274 , such as audio player  300 , audio processor  302  (with a subwoofer), and speakers  301  may be attached to bracket  306  and/or supported by audio cowl  304 . In this embodiment, audio cowl  304  itself attaches to bracket  306 . It is appreciated that audio system  274  may be electrically connected to video display  252  in order to produce sound for same. Nonetheless, for both video screen mount assembly to  254  and audio system  274 , both may be attached to various plates  266 , for purposes of securing those structures to ceiling  268 , but without requiring the fasteners to extend all the way through roof panel  26  in order to support those or other structures. 
     In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown in specific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should be appreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not be required. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged in a different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures. Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in a particular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required in all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may not be included or may be combined with other features. It should also be appreciated that, to the extent any subject matter disclosed in this Application conflicts with the parent and priority applications, the disclosure in this Application controls.