Patent Description:
The present invention relates in particular to a drainage system for truck bed covers, especially truck bed covers composed of interconnected rigid slats.

When a truck bed is open and the truck bed cover more or less retracted and rolled-up, rainwater gets inside the truck bed. When the truck bed cover is closed rainwater gather on top of it so that when the truck bed cover is rolled-up the rainwater can get inside the truck bed, and inside the canister that houses the rolled-up truck bed cover, which typically is provided in proximity of the driver's cab.

Drain holes may be premade in some truck beds to drain water from the truck bed, but a truck bed cover is often not part of the truck bed from the start. Truck bed covers are very often obtained as an aftermarket product and installed after purchase. Premade drain holes may not suffice and be in an inappropriate location to drain water accumulated by the truck bed cover. The most frequently used solution is to drill appropriately located drain holes that properly guide the rainwater out of the truck bed, including out of the canister and of the coupling rails.

Drain holes can e.g. be premade or drilled through the side of the truck bed, at the bottom of the truck bed, at the tailgate and/or at the front end, or in the canister. Drain tubes can be used to achieve fluid communication and guide water to the drain holes.

Drilling drain holes in a truck bed permanently alters and may even damage the truck and is therefore undesirable, and connecting tubes to drain hole may be challenging. If an existing truck bed cover is to be replaced with a new one new holes must often be drilled.

Truck bed cover manufacturers are therefore constantly looking for solutions to minimize the above disadvantages and problems of diverting rain from the prior art truck bed covers and truck beds.

Japanese patent application no. <CIT> discloses a corner for a roof of a cargo truck,with a mounting part and a cover part, the mounting part being adapted for being secured on top of the rear end of a side wall of the truck bed in elongation of a coupling rail and having a rainwater inlet adapted for alignment with at least one rainwater drain channel of the coupling rail. The cover part is secured to the top edge of the walls of the cargo truck by means of rivets.

US patent application no. <CIT> discloses a tilt-up tonneau cover that is not secured at the rear end of the truck bed, but has tiltable corner elements secured by upwards extending screws.

In a main aspect of the present invention is provided a rear corner element with the features of claim <NUM>. It is easy to install and has high vehicle compatibility.

It also facilitates mounting and dismounting of the truck bed cover from the coupling rails.

The truck bed covers particularly intended for use with the rear corner element of the present invention are of the roll-up or retractable kind, wherein the covers are composed of a plurality of pivotably connected slats, e.g. the rigid slat disclosed in the applicant's co-pending Danish patent application no.

Within the context of the present invention the term "rainwater" should not be construed as limiting. Rainwater constitutes the majority of water to be diverted and drained along the exterior surface at the rear end of the truck, however the rear corner element can divert any kind of water and liquids, including melt water from snow on top of the truck bed cover.

Within the context of the present invention the term "truck" should not be construed as limited to a particular kind of vehicle. The term "truck" is used for any vehicle designed to transport cargo and having an open truck bed, tray or carrier body to be closed by a roll-up cover, including but not limited to large, medium and small trucks, including pick-ups, SUVs, utes, and trailers for other kinds of vehicles.

In order to mount the rear corner element the base mounting part is simply arranged on top of the side wall of the truck bed. The coupling rail is arranged on top of said side wall in extension of of the rear corner element already, which coupling rail serves to mount the truck bed cover in reciprocating manner above the free opening of the truck bed, e.g. as described in relation to the truck bed cover and drive system disclosed in the applicant's international patent application no.

The rear corner element guides the rainwater that gathers in the coupling rail from above and from the top face of the slats of the truck bed cover out along the rear end wall of the truck.

For example water that gathers on top of the array of slats assembled of slats, defined in the applicant's co-pending Danish patent application no. <CIT>, can run into the coupling rail via a drainage track across such a slat in proximity of the free end of said slat, and pass over the exterior surface of the rear end wall of the truck when leaving the first rear end part of the rear corner element as well, and without any drain holes having been drilled in the rear end wall or side wall of the truck bed.

Some truck beds may also utilize drain tubes to divert water from different locations without drain holes into one or more rainwater drain channels of the coupling rail and then further into the rear corner element, optionally pump such water up into the rainwater drain channels of the coupling rail.

It is emphasized that the rear corner element of the present invention cannot be used together with truck bed covers that are mounted to slide in coupling rails mounted inside the truck bed below the free edge of the truck bed side wall.

Both rear corners of the truck bed may be fitted with the rear corner element of the present invention.

The first front end part can be assembled to a free rear end of the coupling rail, e.g. by means of screws to an end wall or end frame at said free rear end of the coupling rail, to arrange the mounting part in lengthwise extension of said coupling rail so that said at least one rainwater inlet is put in liquid communication with the at least one rainwater drain channel of the coupling rail. The screws make the rear corner element detachably secured to the coupling rail whereby the rear corner element can be secured to any length of coupling rail to match any length of truck bed. Once the coupling rail has been cut to appropriate length, taking in consideration the length of the rear corner element, the overall length of coupling rail plus rear corner element arranges the rear corner element to rest partly on the side wall of the truck bed and partly on the rear wall of the truck bed to allow rainwater to drain along the surface of said rear end wall. A detachable rear corner element thus has a versatile use and allows easy customizing and mounting of truck bed covers. A further advantage is that if e.g. the drain channel or chamber becomes obstructed, or in case of rear end collision damages, often only the rear corner element needs to be dismantled, cleaned and/or replaced, and neither drain holes nor mounting holes needs to be drilled in the truck.

Although it is possible and less preferred the rear corner element of the present invention need not be mechanically secured, such as screwed, to the walls of the truck bed. It may simply rests on the upper edges of the walls of the truck bed in secured extension of the coupling rail. Optionally a rubber sealing strip, or similar sealing means are disposed between the upper surface of the truck bed and the lower surface of the rear corner element to close and seal a gap there between.

The cover part provides the rear corner element with a perfect termination and appearance, and the cover part also contributes to keep the slat array of the truck bed cover from being pulled out of their respective guide grooves of the opposite coupling rails. Rainwater can easily escape between the opposite first rear end part of the mounting part and the second rear end part of the cover part due to a space or gap between the free edges of said first rear end part and said second rear end part. The space or gap can be achieved e.g. by the cover part being longer than the mounting part or by the cover part being vertically spaced from the mounting part.

The mounting part and the cover part are detachably connected to each other, e.g. to facilitate inspection of the mounting part, and for easy slidingly removal or slidingly insertion of the truck bed cover into the coupling rails, e.g. for maintenance or replacement of the truck bed cover. Once the cover part is assembled to the mounting part the cover part serves as an end stop that retains the truck bed cover slidingly arranged in the opposite coupling rails between the tailgate and the driver's cab.

In a particular elegant design the height of the mounting part decreases from the first front end part to the first rear end part.

The cover part may have a roof, a second front end part and an opposite second rear end part, which parts preferably is shaped and dimensioned to follow a smooth curvature to cover the mounting part to provide a rear corner element detachably assembled of two separate parts and having a rounded appearance that terminates the rear end of the rear corner of the truck bed. Preferably the height of the cover part decreases from the second front end part to the second rear end part in substantially same manner as the overall height of the mounting part decreases from the first front end part to the first rear end part.

The cover part may preferably be longer than the base mounting part this way delimiting an outlet for drain and rainwater between a free rear end of the first rear end part and a free rear end the second rear end part. The outlet may e.g. be configured as one slot or gap between the mounting part and the cover part, or more slots or gaps, following the curvature of the free opposite edges of the first rear end part and the second rear end part. Such slot(s) or gap(s) can be provided by said free edges having slightly different radii of curvatures at least on an angular section of said edges.

The rear corner element includes one or more coupling components for coupling the mounting part to the cover part and aligning said mounting part and said cover part properly in relation to each other and in relation to the coupling rail.

In order to further align the mounting part and the cover part and prevent unintentionally axial displacement during assembling, and in case of influences by external unintended forces, e.g. when the truck bed cover rolls, the base mounting part may have a male coupling member, e.g. a male snap coupling member, and the roof have a female snap member, e.g. a female snap coupling member, or vice versa. The engaged coupling members keep the cover part in covering position coupled to the mounting part. The male coupling member, such as a lengthwise extending tubular member or rod, may be laterally resilient, spring-biased or tensioned to flex laterally in and out of the female coupling member, such as a lengthwise extending tubular member, an opening or a hole.

Yet an optional coupling means can be achieved by the base mounting part having a first edge coupling means and the roof having a second edge coupling means to terminate the edge areas of said cover part and said mounting part, preferably except at the majority of the first and second rear end parts where the rainwater drains via the rainwater outlet. Such edge coupling means can be used to couple the mounting part and the cover part together along free edges, or be used for retaining a gasket or other seal means.

In an advantageous embodiment of the rear corner element the base mounting part may include an elongate, axially extending, exterior section configured to rest on top of the side wall of the truck bed, and an elongate, axially extending, interior section extending laterally from the elongate, axially extending, exterior section in order to protrude inside the truck bed.

At least one rainwater diverting channel or chamber may be provided in the elongate, axially extending, exterior section.

A bottom face of the rear corner element may have a protruding pulley wheel bearing for supported suspension of the drive system for the truck bed cover. The pulley wheel bearing may be provided below the elongate, axially extending, interior section and retracted from the second rear end part, a part of which rest on the rear wall of the truck bed, and so that an edge section of the first rear end part of the mounting part can rest on top of the rear corner of the truck bed.

The present invention also relates to a truck bed cover provided with the rear corner element described above.

The invention will now be explained in further details with references to the drawing in which.

Below the rear corner element is described in relation to a roll-up truck bed cover for a pickup having a cargo space between the driver's cab and a tailgate. The cargo space is delimited by the truck bed, which is covered by a roll-up truck bed cover of directly or indirectly connected rigid slats with or without drainage tracks at the end of said rigid slats. The rear corner element can however be used for other kinds of truck bed covers, such as soft covers, including fabric covers, provided the coupling rails are arranged on top of the side walls of the truck bed. The preferred coupling rails are mounted on top of the side wall of the truck bed, preferably using detachable clamps so that no holes need to be drilled in the truck bed walls.

Although just embodiments of right rear corner elements are discussed and described below, and shown in the figures, left rear corner elements are also accomplished, and encompassed within the scope of the present invention. A left rear corner element has a mirror-shape of a right rear corner element, but besides its mirror-shape the left rear corner element may be identical to the right rear corner element, which is why the left rear corner element is not discussed separately.

<FIG> and <FIG> are perspective, exploded views of a first embodiment of a right rear corner element <NUM> from different angles, and <FIG> shows the same in assembled state from the first front end part <NUM>. In the following detailed description the right rear corner element <NUM> is referred to as the rear corner element <NUM>.

The rear corner element <NUM> has a mounting part <NUM> and a cover part <NUM>, and the structural features and subcomponents of said parts <NUM>,<NUM> will now be described in further details with reference to <FIG>.

The mounting part <NUM> is composed of a base mounting part <NUM>, a first front end part <NUM> and an opposite first rear end part <NUM>. The base mounting part <NUM> has a substantially flat main base body <NUM> including an elongate, axially extending, exterior section <NUM> adapted to rest on top of the rearmost corner of the truck bed (not shown). The axially extending exterior section <NUM> extends laterally into an elongate, axially extending, interior section <NUM> that protrudes inside the truck bed and has a pulley wheel bearing <NUM> protruding substantially perpendicularly from the axially extending interior section <NUM> down inside said truck bed along and/or adjacent the interior surface of the truck bed side wall (not shown). The pulley wheel bearing <NUM> suspends the idle pulley wheel of a drive system for the truck bed cover. The drive system can for example be an electric drive system including a timing belt protected by a guide rail connected to or in communication with the pulley wheel bearing <NUM>, as e.g. seen in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>.

The first front end part <NUM> has three screw holes <NUM> for securing the first front end part <NUM> to a free end of a coupling rail (not shown in <FIG>), and three round and one flat tenon <NUM> to be joined with corresponding mortises in the free rear end of the coupling rail (not shown). On the side of the first front end part <NUM> facing away from the coupling rail (not shown), said first front end part <NUM> has four spaced apart coupling holes <NUM> along an upper curvature to receive four correspondingly spaced apart protrusions <NUM> of the cover part <NUM>, which protrusions <NUM> extend lengthwise along the interior side of the roof <NUM> of the cover part <NUM> to also provide structural strength and rigidity to said cover part <NUM>. Except for the coupling holes <NUM> the exterior section <NUM> may be end closed by an end wall <NUM> at the first front end part <NUM>. The number and locations of screw holes, coupling holes, protrusions and tenons, etc, can be other than indicated above, and may depend on the design of the coupling rail. The end wall may be optional. The end wall can also be a separate insertable component, be positioned at the front end of the coupling rail or be integral with the mounting part. Several end walls may also be used to ensure proper coupling of coupling rail to rear corner element, preferably in sealed manner.

A first rainwater inlet <NUM> is located at the upmost transition between the exterior section <NUM> and the interior section <NUM>. The first rainwater inlet <NUM> additionally serves to slide a square T-not into the coupling rail <NUM> without having to remove the mounting part, thereby in a simple and fast manner configuring a means for securing an accessory. The upper gutter section <NUM> curves downwards towards the first rear end part <NUM> without extending the full length of the main base body <NUM>.

The interior section <NUM> has an upper gutter section <NUM> in extension of said first rainwater inlet <NUM>. The upper gutter section <NUM> curves downwards towards the first rear end part <NUM> without extending the full length of the main base body <NUM>. Accordingly, the upper gutter section <NUM> does not reach as far as to the first free rear edge <NUM> of the first rear end part <NUM>, thereby guiding water down onto the main base body <NUM> to conduct said rainwater to flow out over the free rear edge <NUM> down along the rear corner of the truck bed. Thus the upper gutter section <NUM> is slightly inclined and is shorter than the total length of the interior section <NUM>, so that rainwater can be guided out of the rear corner element <NUM>. The upper face of the upper gutter section <NUM> defines a rainwater diverting channel <NUM> above a rain chamber <NUM> below the upper gutter section <NUM>, which rain chamber <NUM> extends lengthwise of the mounting part <NUM> towards the first rear end part <NUM>.

The rain chamber <NUM> also provides space and access to secure, such as to screw the coupling rail and the mounting part <NUM> together. Although the upper gutter section <NUM> of the present embodiment curves downwards towards the first rear end part <NUM> without extending the full length of the main base body <NUM> variantions of curvatures and length are within the scope of the present invention. In a particular simple embodiment the upper gutter section does not curve.

The pulley wheel bearing <NUM> is retracted from the first free rear edge <NUM> of the first rear end part <NUM> thereby providing a free interior end section <NUM> of the interior section <NUM>. The free interior end section <NUM> extends laterally into a free exterior end section <NUM> of the exterior section <NUM>, and in combination said free interior end section <NUM> and said free exterior end section <NUM> are the end parts of the mounting part <NUM> that are placed on top of the side wall of the truck bed at the rear corner. Optionally a resilient sealing strip may be incorporated between the bottom face on the mounting part and the exterior face of the rear truck bed corner to ensure that there is no gap for backflow of rainwater into the truck bed.

The base mounting part <NUM> has a central male snap coupling member <NUM>, and the roof <NUM> of the cover part <NUM> has a complementary central female snap coupling member <NUM>, which is seen best in <FIG>. When the cover part <NUM> is moved towards the coupling rail, e.g. axially along the mounting part <NUM>, the male snap coupling member <NUM> slidingly engages the female snap coupling member <NUM> to detachably connect the cover part <NUM> to the mounting part <NUM>.

The roof <NUM> of the cover part <NUM> has a second front end part <NUM> and an opposite second rear end part <NUM>. The second rear end part <NUM> has an axially protruding plug <NUM> that fits inside a corresponding plug hole <NUM> at a first rear end <NUM> of the interior section <NUM> for end-to-end securing the cover part <NUM> to the mounting part <NUM> opposite the snap coupling members <NUM>,<NUM>.

As seen best in <FIG> the cover part <NUM> and the mounting part <NUM> delimit a gap that serves as an outlet <NUM> between the free rear edge <NUM> of the first free rear end <NUM> of the first rear end part <NUM> and second free rear end <NUM> of the second rear end part <NUM> of said cover part <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the rear corner element <NUM> in assembled state but from below and from the rear end parts <NUM>,<NUM>. A first edge coupling means <NUM> that in use holds a sealing gasket (not shown) in place is provided along at least a part of the circumference of the base mounting part <NUM> that rests on the wall of the truck bed. Optionally at least a part of the circumference of the base mounting part <NUM> also has a drip nose <NUM>, which is seen best in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows the rear corner element <NUM> shown in <FIG> mounted in extension of an coupling end wall <NUM> of a coupling rail <NUM> provided with a drive system <NUM> for a truck bed cover (not shown). In <FIG> the cover part <NUM> has been removed. The coupling end wall <NUM> is secured to the first front end part <NUM> by means of screws <NUM> into screw holes <NUM>. The coupling rail <NUM> has a mounting rail <NUM> for other acessories, which mounting rail may further serve as a rainwater drain channel. The mounting rail <NUM> for other acessories is aligned with the first rainwater inlet <NUM> of the first front end part <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the same in exploded views and illustrate that the pulley wheel bearing <NUM> does not extend to the drip nose <NUM> but is retracted therefrom, so that the free interior end section <NUM> and the free exterior end section <NUM> can be arranged to rest on top of the rear wall of the rear corner of the truck, as shown in <FIG>, with the pulley wheel bearing <NUM> located along a side wall of the truck bed and facing towards the cargo space of the truck bed.

The first front end part <NUM> has a second rainwater inlet <NUM> in aligned communication with a coupling rail outlet <NUM> at the coupling end wall <NUM> of or for a coupling rail <NUM>, as shown in the fragmentary exploded view of <FIG>. The second rainwater inlet <NUM> allows water, e.g. water from drainage tracks crosswise the opposite ends of the slats, to directly enter the rainwater diverting channel chamber <NUM>.

An idle pulley wheel <NUM> is suspended to the pulley wheel bearing <NUM> and is driven by a timing belt <NUM> of the drive system <NUM> to move the truck bed cover along slide tracks (not shown) of the coupling rail <NUM>.

Slide strips or slide tracks <NUM>,<NUM> extend in channels of the coupling rail <NUM> and into the rear corner element <NUM> to reduce friction and avoid metal on metal contact of slat and coupling rail.

Sealing strip45 extends in a channel of the coupling rail <NUM> and into the rear corner element <NUM> to avoid back flow and routing water and moisture another way than out via the outlet <NUM>.

<FIG> is a fragmentary, perspective view of a rear corner end of a truck <NUM> provided with a truck bed cover <NUM> implementing the rear corner element <NUM>. The truck <NUM> has a side wall <NUM> that continues into a rear wall <NUM> via a rear corner <NUM> adjacent the tailgate <NUM>. The rear corner element <NUM> is secured in extension of the coupling rail <NUM>, which coupling rail <NUM> is clamped to the side wall <NUM>, whereby the rear corner element <NUM> rests detachably on top of the rear corner <NUM> of the truck <NUM> so that the outlet <NUM> is arranged to divert water along the rear corner <NUM> and/or the rear wall <NUM>, as indicated by fat arrows A.

<FIG> shows the rear corner element <NUM> from the rear end parts <NUM>,<NUM> and from the interior section <NUM>. The central male snap coupling member <NUM> protrudes laterally below the upper gutter section <NUM> to laterally and flexible and/or resiliently engage the opening <NUM> of the female snap coupling member <NUM> of the cover part <NUM>, which female snap coupling member <NUM> is seen best in <FIG>. The upright web <NUM> of the female snap coupling member <NUM> serves as a guide surface for the male snap coupling member <NUM> until said male snap coupling member <NUM> clicks inside the opening <NUM> to engage, to achieve the assembled state of the rear corner element <NUM>. The male snap coupling member <NUM> has a tapered free tip <NUM> for improved guidance and increasingly biased contact with the upright web <NUM> when the cover part <NUM> is moved towards the coupling rail <NUM> on top of the mounting part <NUM>.

The timing belt <NUM> is protectively held inside a guide rail <NUM> and being connected to the coupling rail <NUM> below said coupling rail <NUM> so that a timing belt tensioner <NUM> is accessible to engage the truck bed cover <NUM> to reciprocate said truck bed cover <NUM> along a slide track <NUM>, e.g. by means of a connector on a rear profile <NUM> at the rear end of the array of slats <NUM>, as described in the applicant's international patent application no.

In the view of <FIG> the cover part <NUM> has been disengaged the mounting part <NUM> and the truck bed cover <NUM> is being removed via the rear corner element <NUM> by the truck bed cover <NUM> being disconnected the drive system and then pulling the truck bed cover <NUM> out of the slide tracks <NUM> of the opposite coupling rails <NUM> in the direction indicated by arrow B.

A fragment of the improved slat <NUM> of <CIT> is shown in <FIG> from below. The slat <NUM> has a first hinge member <NUM> which via a flat main slat body <NUM> extends into a second hinge member <NUM>. Respective drainage tracks <NUM>,<NUM> are cut crosswise said hinge members <NUM>,<NUM> close to the slat end <NUM> of the slat <NUM>, which slat end <NUM> is inserted in the slide track <NUM> of the coupling rail <NUM>. The drainage tracks <NUM>,<NUM> guide rainwater to pass into a drain channel of the coupling rail <NUM> so that rainwater can flow out over the exterior face of the rear corner <NUM> of the truck <NUM> via the rear corner element <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> an array of slats <NUM> combine together with the rear profile <NUM> into the truck bed cover <NUM> that can be rolled up to uncover the cargo opening (not shown) of the truck bed <NUM>, and rolled out again to cover said cargo opening. <FIG> shows in perspective, a second embodiment of a rear corner element <NUM>' that does not belong to the invention, in disssembled state, and to be aligned with a coupling end wall <NUM>' of a coupling rail <NUM> for a roll-up truck bed cover <NUM> in a manner similar to the first embodiment of a rear corner element <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Preferably the coupling end wall <NUM>' is a gasket to keep water from dripping into the truck bed thruogh the connection between the rear corner element <NUM>' and the coupling rail <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> are different perspective views of the second embodiment of the rear corner element <NUM>' of <FIG>, and the main components for rear corner element <NUM>' are seen in different angular orientations.

The second embodiment of a rear corner element <NUM>' corresponds substantially to the first embodiment of a rear corner element <NUM>. Therefore <FIG> are described in common below and for like parts same reference numerals are used. Similar parts are indicated by same reference numeral with addition of apostrophe.

The rear corner element <NUM>' has a mounting part <NUM>' and a cover part <NUM>'. Both serve the same functions as the corresponding components of the first embodiment of a rear corner element <NUM>.

The mounting part <NUM>' has a base mounting part <NUM>', a first front end part <NUM>', and an opposite first rear end part <NUM>'. The substantially flat main base body <NUM>' includes an elongate, axially extending, exterior section <NUM>' that extends laterally into an elongate, axially extending, interior section <NUM>' that has a downwards protruding pulley wheel bearing <NUM>'.

The first front end part <NUM>' has three screw holes <NUM> for securing the first front end part <NUM>' to a coupling rail <NUM> via a coupling end wall <NUM>'. The first front end part <NUM>' has an end wall <NUM>' with a second rainwater inlet <NUM>' in aligned communication with a coupling rail outlet <NUM>' of the coupling end wall <NUM>'.

In the present embodiment the coupling end wall <NUM>' is a separate component having appropriate holes and opening for screws and taps to engage and/or receive corresponding components for firm assembling of the coupling rail <NUM> and the rear corner element <NUM>' end-to-end.

To that aspect the first rainwater inlet <NUM> serve as a coupling hole for engaging the protrusions <NUM>' to assemble the mounting part <NUM>' and the cover part <NUM>' in appropriate alignment for the rear corner element <NUM>' to be coupled to the coupling rail <NUM> and then to the top edge of the side wall of the truck bed. Tenons <NUM> serve to assemble the rear corner element <NUM>' in lengthwise alignment with corresponding mating features of the coupling end wall <NUM>' and/or the end of the coupling rail <NUM> facing the tail gate. The coupling end wall <NUM>,<NUM>' is associated with or configured for the respective embodiments of rear corner elements <NUM>,<NUM>' being assembled end-to-end with the coupling rail <NUM>, thus the coupling end wall <NUM>,<NUM>' can be a separate insertable component, or be integral with any of the coupling rail <NUM> or the rear corner element <NUM>'.

The first rainwater inlet <NUM> is located at the upmost transition between the exterior section <NUM>' and the interior section <NUM>' of the mounting part <NUM>'. The interior section <NUM>' has an upper gutter section <NUM>' in extension of said first rainwater inlet <NUM>. The upper gutter section <NUM>' is shorter than the total length of the interior section <NUM>' and does not reach as far as to the first free rear edge <NUM>' of the first rear end part <NUM>', thereby guiding water down onto the main base body <NUM>' to conduct a flow of water out over the free rear edge <NUM>' and out via the outlet <NUM>.

The upper face of the upper gutter section <NUM>' defines a rainwater diverting area or channel <NUM>' above, and in liquid communication with, a rain chamber <NUM>' below the upper gutter section <NUM>', which rain chamber <NUM>' extends lengthwise of the mounting part <NUM>' a distance towards the first free rear edge <NUM>' of the first rear end part <NUM>'.

The pulley wheel bearing <NUM>' is retracted from the first free rear edge <NUM>' of the first rear end part <NUM>'. The free interior end section <NUM>' of the interior section <NUM>' extends laterally into a free exterior end section <NUM> of the exterior section <NUM>', and in combination said free interior end section <NUM>' and said free exterior end section <NUM>' are the end parts of the mounting part <NUM>' that are placed on top of the side wall at the rear corner of the truck bed to serve to mount a roll-up truck bed cover in retractable manner.

As seen best in <FIG> the roof <NUM>' of the cover part <NUM>' has a second front end part <NUM>' and an opposite second rear end part <NUM>'. The second rear end part <NUM>' has an axially protruding plug <NUM>' of the interior section <NUM>' for end-to-end securing the cover part <NUM>' to the mounting part <NUM>' by coupling the protruding plug <NUM>' into the plug opening <NUM>' at the first rear end part <NUM>' of the mounting part <NUM>'.

The cover part <NUM>' has a male tubular coupling member <NUM> protruding lengthwise along the roof <NUM>' from the second rear end part <NUM>'. The male tubular coupling member <NUM> has a lengthwise extending bottom opening <NUM> opposite the roof <NUM>' to allow water that may arrive from the gutter section <NUM>' of the mounting part <NUM>' to pass out of the tubular male coupling member <NUM>.

The tubular male coupling member <NUM> has substantially semicircular curved interior second wall section <NUM> with a flexible lateral male snap coupling member <NUM>. The flexibility of the lateral male snap coupling member <NUM> is achieved simply by making a U-shaped track <NUM> in the interior second wall section <NUM>, thereby creating a flexible and deflectable flat-spring member <NUM> out of the curved interior second wall section <NUM>. The flat-spring member <NUM> has an engagement knob <NUM> with a free end <NUM>. The U-shaped track <NUM> can be made during molding or by subsequent cutting. The engagement knob <NUM> can likewise be made during molding or added by known attachment processes, such as gluing or heat fusion. The flat-spring member <NUM> can also be added as a separate component to the outside of the interior second wall section <NUM>.

The curved interior second wall section <NUM> extends into a curved exterior second wall section <NUM> that has a coupling track <NUM> for guided coupling with a coupling rib <NUM> of a tubular female coupling member <NUM> of the mounting part <NUM>', which tubular female coupling member <NUM> is provided lengthwise the exterior section <NUM>' of the mounting part <NUM>' to at least partly receive the tubular male coupling member <NUM> of the cover part <NUM>' thereby arranging the upper gutter section <NUM>' of the mounting part <NUM>' to extend above the interior section <NUM>' of the mounting part <NUM>'.

The tubular female coupling member <NUM> has a side opening <NUM> that flexibly and/or resiliently engage the engagement knob <NUM> of the male snap coupling member <NUM> to ensure the detachably interconnection of cover part <NUM>' and mounting part <NUM>' in the assembled state of the rear corner element <NUM>', thus when the tubular male coupling member <NUM> has been inserted into tubular female coupling member <NUM>.

The tubular female coupling member <NUM> is tunnel shaped with a tunnel wall <NUM> having a first wall section <NUM> arranged at the exterior section <NUM>', and a second wall section <NUM> arranged substantially at the mid of the flat main base body <NUM>'. The first wall section <NUM> and the second wall section <NUM> are connected by a tunnel roof section <NUM>. An exterior area <NUM> of the tunnel roof section <NUM> may be located at the exterior section <NUM>'. The exterior area <NUM> extends laterally into the upper gutter section <NUM>' as part of said gutter section <NUM>'.

As seen best in <FIG> the cover part <NUM>' and the mounting part <NUM>' delimit an outlet <NUM>' between the first rear end part <NUM>' of the mounting part <NUM>' and the second free rear end <NUM>' of the second rear end part <NUM>' of said cover part <NUM>'. The outlet <NUM>' serves for draining water gathering on top of the truck bed cover, water gathering in the rainwater drain channel <NUM> of the coupling rail <NUM>, and any water that otherwise is transported to the rear corner element <NUM>' by the coupling rail <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the second embodiment of a rear corner element <NUM>' mounted at a piece of coupling rail <NUM> for a roll-up truck bed cover. The view of <FIG> corresponds substantially to the view of <FIG>, but with the difference that the rear corner element <NUM>' is in assembled state.

The timing belt <NUM> is protectively held inside a guide rail <NUM> connected to the coupling rail <NUM> below said coupling rail <NUM> so that a timing belt tensioner <NUM> is accessible to laterally engage a connector component of the truck bed cover <NUM> to reciprocate said truck bed cover <NUM> along a slide track <NUM>.

A seal means in form of a truck bed sealing strip <NUM> is arranged in an exterior groove <NUM> of the coupling rail <NUM> so that a first truck bed sealing strip part <NUM> of the truck bed sealing strip <NUM> is outside the exterior groove <NUM> and a second truck bed sealing strip part <NUM> of the truck bed sealing strip <NUM> is inside the exterior groove <NUM> for securing of the truck bed sealing strip <NUM> in said exterior groove <NUM>. The first truck bed sealing strip part <NUM> serves as a seal between the upper edge of the truck bed wall and the coupling rail <NUM>. The second truck bed sealing strip part <NUM> is the part of the truck bed sealing strip <NUM> that may anchor in the exterior groove <NUM>. The truck bed sealing strip <NUM> follows the curvature of the upper edge of the truck bed wall, and along the first free rear end <NUM>' of the first rear end part <NUM>', and is secured to the bottom face of flat main base body <NUM>' along said curvature by means of the first edge coupling means <NUM>, also shown in <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A rear corner element (<NUM>;<NUM>') for a truck bed cover (<NUM>), wherein the rear corner element (<NUM>;<NUM>') has a mounting part (<NUM>;<NUM>') and a cover part (<NUM>;<NUM>'),
the mounting part (<NUM>;<NUM>') has
- a base mounting part (<NUM>;<NUM>') adapted for being secured on top of the rear end of a side wall (<NUM>) of the truck bed (<NUM>) in elongation of a coupling rail adapted for mounting a roll-up truck bed cover (<NUM>) to said side wall (<NUM>) of the truck bed (<NUM>),
- a first front end part (<NUM>;<NUM>') configured to be assembled to a free rear end of the coupling rail in lengthwise extension of said coupling rail, which first front end part (<NUM>;<NUM>') has at least one rainwater inlet (<NUM>,<NUM>) adapted for alignment with at least one rainwater drain channel of the coupling rail,
- a first rear end part (<NUM>;<NUM>') opposite the first front end part (<NUM>;<NUM>'),
- at least one rainwater diverting channel (<NUM>) and/or chamber (<NUM>) extending lengthwise of the mounting part (<NUM>;<NUM>') from the at least one rainwater inlet (<NUM>,<NUM>) towards the first rear end part (<NUM>;<NUM>'),
- the first front end part (<NUM>;<NUM>') of the mounting part (<NUM>;<NUM>') has first coupling means (<NUM>) for coupling to second coupling means (<NUM>) on the second front end part (<NUM>;<NUM>') of the cover part (<NUM>;<NUM>'), whereby
- the mounting part (<NUM>;<NUM>') and the cover part (<NUM>;<NUM>') are detachably connected to each other.