Tonneau Cover
Tonneau cover for mounting to a pickup truck having a cargo bed has a top panel and a bottom panel, wherein the bottom panel includes opposing arrays of upwardly extending projections having flat coplanar upper surfaces with the arrays divided by a beam feature that extends in a front to rear direction of the cover. The beam feature itself may include a series of upwardly extending projections having flat coplanar upper surfaces, which, advantageously, are elongate along the front to rear direction.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A tonneau cover comprising a top panel and a bottom panel associated therewith, wherein the bottom panel includes opposing arrays of upwardly extending projections having flat coplanar upper surfaces with the arrays divided by a beam feature that extends in a front to rear direction of the tonneau cover, wherein the beam feature includes a series of upwardly extending projections having flat coplanar upper surfaces.
3 . The tonneau cover of claim 2 , wherein the upwardly extending projections are elongate along the front to rear direction of the beam feature.
4 . The tonneau cover of claim 3 , wherein the upwardly extending projections of the bottom panel have tapering sides that define frusto-conical cups; the beam feature embraces an elongate protrusion, which includes the series of upwardly extending projections; and the upwardly extending projections have tapering sides, and have major axes that define a central axis of the beam feature.
5 . The tonneau cover of claim 4 , wherein there are also present topographical features, which include at least one of protrusions that depend downward and depressions that extend upward are provided along the beam feature; and lateral topographical features, which include at least one of depressions and protrusions.
6 . (canceled)
7 . The tonneau cover of claim 2 , wherein adhesive, binds the bottom panel to the top panel.
8 . The tonneau cover of claim 3 , wherein adhesive binds the bottom panel to the top panel.
9 . The tonneau cover of claim 4 , wherein adhesive binds the bottom panel to the top panel.
10 . The tonneau cover of claim 5 , wherein adhesive binds the bottom panel to the top panel.
11 . (canceled)
12 . The tonneau cover of claim 2 , wherein the bottom and top panels are made from a suitable thermoformable plastic.
13 . The tonneau cover of claim 3 , wherein the bottom and top panels are made from a suitable thermoformable plastic.
14 . The tonneau cover of claim 4 , wherein the bottom and top panels are made from a suitable thermoformable plastic.
15 . The tonneau cover of claim 5 , wherein the bottom and top panels are made from a suitable thermoformable plastic.
16 . In combination, a tonneau cover comprising a top panel and a bottom panel associated therewith, wherein the bottom panel includes opposing arrays of upwardly extending projections having flat coplanar upper surfaces with the arrays divided by a beam feature that extends in a front to rear direction of the tonneau cover, wherein the beam feature includes a series of upwardly extending projections having flat coplanar upper surfaces; and a pickup truck having a cargo bed, to which the tonneau cover is attached.
17 . The combination of claim 16 , wherein the series of upwardly extending projections of the beam feature are elongate along the front to rear direction of the beam feature.
18 . The combination of claim 17 , which includes at least one pneumatic/hydraulic assist bar for supporting the tonneau cover in an uplifted position.
19 . The combination of claim 18 , wherein the bottom and top panels of the tonneau cover are made from a suitable thermoformable plastic.
20 . The combination of claim 19 , wherein adhesive binds the bottom and top panels of the tonneau cover.
21 . The combination of claim 20 , wherein a lock device is provided to secure the tonneau cover when it is closed in relation to the cargo bed of the pickup truck.
22 . A tonneau cover comprising a top panel and a bottom panel associated therewith, wherein the top and bottom panels are made of a suitable plastic, and the bottom panel includes opposing arrays of discrete upwardly extending projections, which projections are rounded in overall shape when viewed from a bottom direction and have flat coplanar upper surfaces, with the arrays divided by a beam feature that extends along a single axis in a front to rear direction of the tonneau cover.
23 . The tonneau cover of claim 22 , wherein adhesive binds the bottom panel to the top panel.