Patent ID: 7513562

Claim:
A mechanism for attaching a hard cover to a vehicle bed and for raising the rear of the hard cover and for subsequently raising the front of the hard cover, comprising: (a) a right side rail, (b) a left side rail, (c) a right rear extending arm, one end pivotally attached to a rear-point of said right side rail and other end pivotally attached to the right rear of the hard cover, (d) a left rear extending arm, one end pivotally attached to a rear-point of said left side rail and other end pivotally attached to the left rear of the hard cover, (e) a hinge means attached to the forward end of the hard cover, (f) a right rigid arm, having a forward end attached to said hinge means and a rearward end pivotally attached to said right side rail near a mid-point, (g) a left rigid arm, having a forward end attached to said hinge means and a rearward end pivotally attached to said left side rail near a mid-point, (h) a force means, one end attached to said right rigid arm and the other end attached to said right side rail wherein said force means provides torque to raise the forward end of said right rigid arm above said right side rail, or one end attached to said left rigid arm and the other end attached to said left side rail wherein said force means provides torque to raise the forward end of said left rigid arm above said left side rail, and (i) a front latch means connecting the forward end of said right rigid arm to said right side rail, or connecting the forward end of said left rigid arm to said left side rail.