Patent ID: 8596703

Claim:
A retractable cover arrangement for vehicles having an interior cargo space, the retractable cover arrangement comprising: a vehicle interior space defined by vehicle interior components having spaced-apart connectors adjacent the vehicle interior space; an elongated roller rotatably mounted adjacent the interior space; a thin flexible cover having inner and outer opposite edge portions, the thin flexible cover wrapping around the elongated roller such that the cover can be moved from a stowed position wherein the cover is wound onto the roller, and an extended position wherein a substantial portion of the thin flexible cover extends away from the elongated roller with the outer end spaced apart from the roller, and wherein the thin flexible cover closes off a substantial portion of the interior space; an elongated rod assembly connected to the thin flexible cover, the elongated rod assembly having a central portion and opposite end portions that shift inwardly and outwardly between extended and retracted positions, respectively, relative to the central portion; a retraction member operably connected to the opposite end portions and shifting the opposite end portions from their extended positions to their retracted positions upon movement of the retraction member.