IP Library Granted Patent US 11,186,149
Granted Patent B2
US 11,186,149 · App. 16/910,200 · Granted Nov 30, 2021

Bias regulated rolling truck bed cover

Inventors: Chad Carter (Manchester, MI); Ryan DeLong (Stockbridge, MI); Jerome Facchinello (Grand Blanc, MI); William Cohoon (Whitmore Lake, MI); Robert Gaarder (West Bloomfield, MI); Wilbur Paul Winkle, III (Ypsilanti, MI)
Assignee: Extang Corporation
B60J7/068B60P7/04
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,186,149
App. No.
16/910,200
Granted
Nov 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tonneau system that includes tonneau cover and a canister. The canister includes one or more tracks for guiding the tonneau cover within the canister during movement of the tonneau cover into the canister; and a retraction system including: a drive roller; one or more lines connecting the drive roller to the tonneau cover; a bias member that moves the drive roller and the one or more lines to assist in moving the tonneau cover into the canister, and a tensioner.

Claims (55)

1. A tonneau system comprising:

a. a tonneau cover; and

b. a canister including:

i. one or more tracks for guiding the tonneau cover within the canister during movement of the tonneau cover into the canister; and

ii. a retraction system including:

1. a drive roller;

2. a line connecting the drive roller to the tonneau cover; and

3. a bias member that moves the drive roller and the line to assist in moving the tonneau cover into the canister,

wherein the retraction system comprises a tensioner.

2. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the retraction system is located outside of the one or more tracks.

3. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein an end of the drive roller includes a pulley that connects the line to the drive roller.

4. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the line extends along an upper surface, a lower surface, or both of the tonneau cover.

5. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the tonneau cover extends along one or more underbody rails and a line rail grommet, through which the line extends, is connected to the one or more underbody rails.

6. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the canister includes a canister cover, and the drive roller is connected to the canister cover.

7. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the canister includes a canister cover at a first end and a canister cover at a second end, the canister cover at the first end and the canister cover at the second end each include the one or more tracks that are a plurality of tracks with a middle region of the canister being free of the canister cover.

8. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the retraction system comprises two lines, and each of the two lines are connected to the drive roller in a region adjacent to opposing bed walls of a vehicle.

9. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the bias member is located within the drive roller.

10. A tonneau system comprising:

a. a tonneau cover; and

b. a canister including:

i. one or more tracks for guiding the tonneau cover within the canister during movement of the tonneau cover into the canister; and

ii. a retraction system including:

1. a drive roller;

2. a line connecting the drive roller to the tonneau cover; and

3. a bias member that moves the drive roller and the line to assist in moving the tonneau cover into the canister,

wherein an end of the drive roller includes a pulley that connects the line to the drive roller.

11. The tonneau system of claim 10 , wherein the line extends along an upper surface, a lower surface, or both of the tonneau cover.

12. The tonneau system of claim 10 , wherein the tonneau cover extends along one or more underbody rails and a line rail grommet, through which the line extends, is connected to the one or more underbody rails.

13. The tonneau system of claim 10 , wherein the canister includes a canister cover at a first end and a canister cover at a second end, the canister cover at the first end and the canister cover at the second end each include the one or more tracks that are a plurality of tracks with a middle region of the canister being free of the canister cover.

14. The tonneau system of claim 10 , wherein the retraction system comprises two lines, and each of the two lines are connected to the drive roller in a region adjacent to opposing bed walls of a vehicle.

15. A tonneau system comprising:

a. a tonneau cover; and

b. a canister including:

i. one or more tracks for guiding the tonneau cover within the canister during movement of the tonneau cover into the canister; and

ii. a retraction system including:

1. a drive roller;

2. a line connecting the drive roller to the tonneau cover; and

3. a bias member that moves the drive roller and the line to assist in moving the tonneau cover into the canister,

wherein the tonneau cover extends along one or more underbody rails and a line rail grommet, through which the line extends, is connected to the one or more underbody rails.

16. The tonneau system of claim 15 , wherein an end of the drive roller includes a pulley that connects the line to the drive roller.

17. The tonneau system of claim 15 , wherein the line extends along an upper surface, a lower surface, or both of the tonneau cover.

18. The tonneau system of claim 15 , wherein the canister includes a canister cover at a first end and a canister cover at a second end, the canister cover at the first end and the canister cover at the second end each include the one or more tracks that are a plurality of tracks with a middle region of the canister being free of the canister cover.

19. The tonneau system of claim 15 , wherein the retraction system comprises two lines, and each of the two lines are connected to the drive roller in a region adjacent to opposing bed walls of a vehicle.

20. A tonneau system comprising:

a. a tonneau cover; and

b. a canister including:

i. one or more tracks for guiding the tonneau cover within the canister during movement of the tonneau cover into the canister; and

ii. a retraction system including:

1. a drive roller;

2. a line connecting the drive roller to the tonneau cover; and

3. a bias member that moves the drive roller and the line to assist in moving the tonneau cover into the canister,

wherein the canister includes a canister cover at a first end and a canister cover at a second end, the canister cover at the first end and the canister cover at the second end each include the one or more tracks that are a plurality of tracks with a middle region of the canister being free of the canister cover.

21. The tonneau system of claim 20 , wherein an end of the drive roller includes a pulley that connects the line to the drive roller.

22. The tonneau system of claim 20 , wherein the line extends along an upper surface, a lower surface, or both of the tonneau cover.

23. The tonneau system of claim 20 , wherein the retraction system comprises two lines, and each of the two lines are connected to the drive roller in a region adjacent to opposing bed walls of a vehicle.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2026
From: A.R.E. ACCESSORIES, LLC; ADELL GROUP, LLC; ADVANTAGE TRUCK ACCESSORIES, INC.; BEDRUG, INC.; BELMOR, INC.; BUSHWACKER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC; BUSHWACKER, INC.; CORD GROUP LLC; EXTANG CORPORATION; HUSKY LINERS, INC.; LAURMARK ENTERPRISES, INC.; LUND MOTION PRODUCTS, INC.; LUND, INC.; HOPE VALLEY INDUSTRIES, LLC; LUND INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY; MAXTON GROUP, INC.; N-FAB, INC.; OMIX-ADA, INC.; POWERFLOW, INC.; REALTRUCK GROUP, INC.; REALTRUCK, LLC; RETRAX HOLDINGS, LLC; ROLL-N-LOCK CORPORATION; RUGGED LINER, INC.; SUPERLIFT, LLC; TRUXEDO, INC.; ULTRA AXLE, LLC; UNDERCOVER, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 075566/0310 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2026
From: A.R.E. ACCESSORIES, LLC; ADELL GROUP, LLC; ADVANTAGE TRUCK ACCESSORIES, INC.; BEDRUG, INC.; BELMOR, INC.; BUSHWACKER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC; BUSHWACKER, INC.; CORD GROUP LLC; EXTANG CORPORATION; HUSKY LINERS, INC.; LAURMARK ENTERPRISES, INC.; LUND MOTION PRODUCTS, INC.; LUND, INC.; HOPE VALLEY INDUSTRIES, LLC; LUND INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY; MAXTON GROUP, INC.; N-FAB, INC.; OMIX-ADA, INC.; POWERFLOW, INC.; REALTRUCK GROUP, INC.; REALTRUCK, LLC; RETRAX HOLDINGS, LLC; ROLL-N-LOCK CORPORATION; RUGGED LINER, INC.; SUPERLIFT, LLC; TRUXEDO, INC.; ULTRA AXLE, LLC; UNDERCOVER, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 075566/0472 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2021
From: TECTUM HOLDINGS, INC.
To: EXTANG CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057198/0315 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TL) Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: TECTUM HOLDINGS, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055175/0056 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: TECTUM HOLDINGS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055176/0279 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 24, 2020
From: CARTER, CHAD; DELONG, RYAN; FACCHINELLO, JEROME; COHOON, WILLIAM; GAARDER, ROBERT; WINKLE, WILBUR PAUL, III
To: TECTUM HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 053024/0017 →