Patent ID: 6851738

Claim:
A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end, the tonneau cover apparatus comprising: a flexible cover, the flexible cover having first and second ends; a support frame for attachment to the cargo box; the support frame having two opposing side rails and a pair of end plate engagement members, each of which is secured to one of the respective opposing side rails in a position rearward of the forward end when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the cargo box; an end plate attached to the second end of the flexible cover, the end plate configured to cooperatively engage the respective end plate engagement members when the flexible cover is drawn over the top of the perimeter of the cargo box; wherein the end plate engagement members cooperate to engage the end plate in a full engagement position when the first end of the flexible cover is operatively connected to the support frame forward of the respective end plate engagement members, such that the end plate is in a closed position when the end plate is in the full engagement position, wherein the flexible cover is stretched so as to place a tension on the flexible cover; and a locking member, the locking member being secured to the end plate and movable between a first position and a second position when the and plate is in the closed position; wherein the locking member prevents the end plate from being disengaged from the closed position when the locking member is in the first position in which an extension of the locking member engages the side rail adjacent to the end plate to prevent such movement, and wherein the end plate can be disengaged from the closed position when the locking member is in the second position.