Patent ID: 8328267

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 and having an open position and a closed position, 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 securing 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; a flexible cover securing plate attached to one end of the flexible cover; the flexible cover securing plate configured to cooperatively engage and pivot with respect to each of the respective securing plate engagement members at first and second engagement positions; wherein the securing plate engagement members cooperate to engage the flexible cover securing plate when the first end of the flexible cover is operatively connected to the support frame forward of the respective securing plate engagement members, such that the flexible cover securing plate can pivot into and out of a fixed stretching position, at the respective first and second engagement positions, 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 flexible cover securing plate and movable between a first position and a second position when the flexible cover securing plate is in the fixed stretching position; wherein the locking member prevents the flexible cover securing plate from being disengaged from the fixed stretching 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 flexible cover securing plate to prevent such movement, and wherein the flexible cover securing plate can be disengaged from the fixed stretching position when the locking member is in the second position; wherein the flexible cover is further secured to the side rails with hook and loop fastening elements.