Patent Description:
Truck bed covers are commonly used with pick-up trucks and like vehicles with cargo areas that are substantially exposed. There are known different types of covers (roll-up covers, folding covers, retractable covers, one-piece solid covers, etc.) for providing a more secure, weather-protected storage.

The design and use of retractable roll-up truck bed covers with open bed pickup trucks is well known. Conventional retractable roll-up truck bed covers commonly include a rollable curtain formed of a plurality of individual slats hingedly connected to form a slat array. The hinged connection of individual slats enables the slat array to form a continuous cover that, once mounted in a pair of side rails, can be either completely or partially extended or retracted and stored in a rolled-up configuration inside a housing box. An example of such a retractable roll-up truck bed cover is shown in <CIT>.

Covers, and particularly roll-up covers, comprise moveable and rollable elements and sometimes it is desirable to provide an electric wired connection to said elements i.e., to power light fixtures, to communicate with sensors, etc..

Roll-up covers including an electric wired connection mounted by running a plurality of cable wires in the side rails comprised within the roll-up covers are known.

However, due to the moveable/rollable aspect of the curtain of the roll-up covers, wired side rails of said covers are not able to provide a continuous connection between electric elements arranged on the rollable curtain and stationary elements, with respect to the housing box of the cover or with respect to the vehicle, while the curtain is operable, i.e., in movement. Therefore, there remains a need for a cover assembly and more precisely a roll-up cover, to be able to provide a wired connection and allow power to be provided to moving parts of the cover, and more precisely to parts of the roll-up cover curtain, to be used for multiple purposes, such as for effectively illuminating portions or the entire length of the truck bed, for including light signals, either decorative or functional, sensors, electric actuators, etc..

In accordance with the invention a cover assembly for a pickup truck bed is provided. The cover assembly comprises a rollable curtain for selectively extending to at least partially cover the pickup truck bed and at least partially retracting to form a roll to be stored inside a housing box. The rollable curtain is formed of a plurality of adjacent transverse panels or slats that are hingedly connected to one another and an end slat.

According to an aspect of the invention, a plurality of cable guiding elements are mounted to at least part of the plurality of adjacent transverse panels for supporting and guiding cable wires in a defined manner during winding and unwinding of the curtain in such a manner that as the curtain is extended over the pickup truck bed the cable wires are guided and supported, without stretching, along at least one portion of the transverse panels and as the flexible cover is retracted the cable guiding elements guide and support the cable wires to form part of the roll, in an orderly manner, such that upon winding of the curtain the cable wires are wound in a circular manner without bending.

Hence, the cable guiding elements are designed to avoid stretching or bending of the cable when the cable is wound (rolled) in the housing box and/or when the cover is extended.

The cable guiding elements are configured to receive cable wires therethrough, from a stationary part of the cover assembly (i.e., parts mounted on the housing box) to different movable or rollable parts of the movable or rollable curtain (i.e., parts mounted on the rollable curtain, transverse panels, end slat) while protecting the cable wires from external damage, minimizing abrasion of the cables and avoiding bending of the cables when the curtain is wound.

According to another aspect of the invention, the cover assembly comprises a light source arranged on one or more of the plurality of adjacent transverse panels, for effectively illuminating the truck bed of a pick-up type vehicle.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the cover assembly may also comprise, arranged on the plurality of adjacent transverse panels and/or the end slat, light signals or sensor-means (pressure sensor-means, light sensor-means, extra brake lamp, emergency lamp, obstacle sensors, interior lamps etc.) that may be powered by means of the cable wires.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.

Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will be described in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which.

With reference to <FIG>, a cover assembly for the truck bed of a pick-up type vehicle according to the invention comprises a rollable curtain <NUM> formed of a plurality of adjacent transverse panels <NUM>, which are continuously connected along their transverse length by hinge joints <NUM>, and an end slat <NUM>, said rollable curtain <NUM> coupled at one end to a transverse rotatable shaft, comprised within a housing box <NUM>, to allow winding and unwinding thereon.

The cover assembly further comprises a plurality of cable guiding elements <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, mounted to at least part of the plurality of the adjacent transverse panels <NUM> and configured to receive cable wires therethrough for providing a wired connection to the rollable curtain <NUM>, such that the cable wires can be supported and guided in a defined manner along at least one longitudinal length of the rollable curtain <NUM> during winding and unwinding of the later, providing a wired connection between elements (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) arranged on individual transverse panels <NUM> and/or the end slat <NUM> and stationary elements, i.e. elements mounted on the housing box <NUM> of the cover assembly.

The term longitudinal is to be understood as a direction parallel to a travel direction of the vehicle.

The term transverse is to be understood as a direction transverse to a travel direction of the vehicle.

The term cable wire is to be understood as any type of cable designed for applications ranging from transmission of data to power supply, such as USB cables, single wire cables, multi-wire cables, coaxial cables, transmission cables, optical-fiber cables, etc..

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> in addition to <FIG>, each one of the plurality of adjacent transverse panels <NUM> has a cable guiding element <NUM> mounted to one or both of its longitudinal ends. In this manner cable wires can either be arranged along only one longitudinal side of the rollable curtain <NUM> or along both opposed longitudinal sides of the rollable curtain <NUM>, allowing for different cable routing arrangements.

Alternatively, the cable guiding elements <NUM> may be mounted to only part of the plurality of adjacent transverse panels <NUM>, to one or both of its longitudinal ends, as shown in <FIG>.

In one embodiment of the present invention, adjacent transverse panels <NUM>, may have a cable guiding element <NUM> mounted to opposed longitudinal ends, respectively.

In other embodiments, the cable guiding elements <NUM> may be mounted or attached at an interior position of the adjacent transverse panels <NUM> or may be integrated in the design of the transverse panels <NUM>.

A number of suitable configurations for the guiding elements <NUM> are contemplated.

Contemplated configurations are particularly suitable for receiving cable wires therethrough, allowing cable wires to be wound in the housing box <NUM>, along with the rollable curtain <NUM>, in a circular manner without stretching and avoiding bending of the wires when the rollable curtain <NUM> is extended.

In the illustrated configurations, the cable guiding elements <NUM> comprise an inner wall 5a, an outer wall 5b, a top wall 5c, a bottom wall 5d, a distal end 5e and a proximal end 5f defining a through channel <NUM> over the entire length of the cable guiding elements <NUM> for cable wires to be supported and guided as they pass longitudinally through the cable guiding elements <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The cable guiding elements <NUM> are arranged on the rollable curtain <NUM> in assembled relation such that the proximal end 5f of a cable guiding element <NUM> faces the distal end 5e of a consecutive cable guiding element <NUM>, whether the consecutive guiding element <NUM> is mounted to an adjacent panel <NUM> or mounted to a further removed transverse panel <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The distal ends 5e of the cable guiding elements <NUM> have a design functionally corresponding to the design of the proximal ends 5f, such that when in assembled relation, during winding and unwinding of the rollable curtain1, the distal end 5e of a cable guiding element <NUM> functionally corresponds to the proximal end 5f of a consecutive cable guiding elements <NUM> to avoid bending of cable wires when the cover is extended and allow winding of the cable wires without stretching.

In one of many equally preferable configurations, the, the distal end 5e and/or the proximal end 5f of the cable guiding elements <NUM> is open-ended.

In the preferred embodiment of <FIG>, the distal end 5e is open-ended and the proximal end 5f comprises a generally curved portion with an opening <NUM>.

In another equally preferable configuration, the outer wall 5b extends partially along the longitudinal length of the guiding element <NUM>, preventing cable wires from slipping out the through channel <NUM>.

The cable guiding elements <NUM> have a heigh at its proximal and distal ends 5f, 5e greater than the height at the center of the guiding elements <NUM>, such that the through channel <NUM> increases in height towards its ends allowing cable wires to be wound in a circular manner without bending, as shown in <FIG>.

In the illustrated embodiments of <FIG>, the bottom wall 5d comprises two diagonal segments <NUM>, <NUM> connected to the respective ends of horizontal segment <NUM>, however, other possible configurations of the bottom wall 5d are also contemplated, the bottom wall 5d may have a curve-shaped configuration, for example.

The cover assembly comprises means <NUM>, for attaching the cable guiding elements <NUM> to the adjacent transverse panels <NUM>. The means for attaching the cable guiding elements <NUM> to the adjacent transverse panels <NUM> may be a threaded bolt or fastener <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, or any other suitable attaching means or combination thereof.

In another embodiment, the housing box <NUM> may comprise helical trackways <NUM> arranged on an inner surface of the side walls thereof, as shown in <FIG>, to help guide the rollable curtain <NUM> free of excessive frictional resistance upon extending or retracting the same. In such an embodiment, the cable guiding elements <NUM> may comprise a ball bearing <NUM> to minimize the rolling friction between the transverse panels <NUM> and the helical trackways <NUM>.

The cable guiding elements <NUM> may also comprise a plurality of transversely projecting parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, which extend inside the transverse panels <NUM> for providing additional attaching means. That is, the cable guiding elements <NUM> may have a design profile corresponding to the design profile of the transverse panels <NUM> for better fit.

Transversely projecting parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may vary in configuration, number, arrangement, etc..

With specific reference to <FIG>, the inner wall 5a of the cable guiding elements <NUM> may comprise a passageway <NUM> through which cable wires can be passed out of the through channel <NUM> laterally with respect to the cable guiding element <NUM> to provide a wired connection to elements mounted on to the transverse panel <NUM> to which the cable guiding element <NUM> is mounted to.

In an embodiment of the present invention, light sources <NUM>, <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, may be arranged on one or more of the plurality of adjacent transverse panels <NUM> and oriented to direct light into the interior and/or exterior of a truck bed and may be configured for operation by dedicated switches, may be automatically operated upon deployment of the rollable curtain <NUM>, may be remotely controlled or may also operate in conjunction with the headlights, parking lights or tail lights of the vehicle.

Alternatively, light sources <NUM>, <NUM> can further be activated by a light sensor-means, not shown, upon the happening of a selected event, such as at darkness, dusk, or times of severe weather conditions, for example.

Light sources <NUM>, <NUM> may be a single component or may consist of a plurality of lighting elements selectively positioned along the length of one or more of the plurality of adjacent transverse panels <NUM> and the end slat <NUM>.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, sensor-means <NUM> may be arranged in the end slat <NUM>, such that when the cover system is motor driven, the cover will automatically stop and reverse upon detecting an obstacle instance.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light source is a red light <NUM> that can work as an extra brake light emitting a brake light signal, an emergency light or an extra driving beam light like the rest tailgate lights of the vehicle and/or a safety light during operation of the roll-up cover.

In other embodiments, the light sources <NUM>, 18may be illuminated when the vehicle and/or the roll-up cover is in operation.

Said lights <NUM>, <NUM> and sensor-means <NUM> may be connected to an electric source on the vehicle, such as the vehicle battery, by means of cable wires guided to specific transverse panels <NUM>, through the passageway <NUM> of the corresponding cable guiding elements <NUM>. The electrical source may be the car battery of the vehicle or other power sources and the control signals may be simple switches or a smart control board as shown in <FIG>.

The above-described invention may incorporate additional circuitry to control the color and the brightness of the light sources <NUM>, <NUM>.

In addition, further circuity may be incorporated with any of the embodiments of the present invention to cause the lights <NUM>, <NUM>-to flash or vary in intensity, for example, as the rollable curtain <NUM> is in movement (opening or closing), when the vehicle brakes or accelerates, etc..

The end slat <NUM> may further comprise a lock mechanism, not shown, arranged on the end slat <NUM>, for securing the rollable curtain <NUM> to the tailgate of the truck. Said locking mechanism comprising a handle for opening and closing the rollable curtain <NUM>.

The cover system is configured to be remotely controlled, as shown in <FIG>, by means of a remote-control element or a mobile application installed in a smartphone, or locally controlled by an end slat actuator.

In addition, a smart controller controls lights <NUM>, <NUM> and any other electric elements arranged on the cover assembly, such as the electric motor, may receive signals from the sensors <NUM>, adjust the brightness of the lights and control the lock mechanism.

Claim 1:
A cover assembly for the truck bed of a pick-up type vehicle, said assembly comprising a housing box (<NUM>) and a rollable curtain (<NUM>) formed by a plurality of adjacent transverse panels (<NUM>), which are continuously connected along their transverse length by hinge joints (<NUM>), and an end slat (<NUM>),
characterised in that the assembly further comprises
said curtain (<NUM>) coupled at one end to a rotatable transverse shaft to allow winding and unwinding thereon, and
a plurality of cable guiding elements (<NUM>) mounted to at least part of the plurality of adjacent transverse panels (<NUM>) and/or the end slat (<NUM>) and configured to receive cable wires therethrough for providing a wired connection between electrical elements (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) arranged on the rollable curtain (<NUM>) and stationary elements of the housing box (<NUM>) such that the cable wires can be supported and guided in a defined manner along at least one longitudinal length of the rollable curtain (<NUM>) during winding and unwinding of the latter.