IP Library Granted Patent US 12,214,713
Granted Patent B2
US 12,214,713 · App. 17/770,608 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Tonneau cover fixing and assembly system

Inventor: Juliano Scheer Mantovani (Caxias do Sul, BR)
Assignee: KEKO ACESSÓRIOS S/A
B60P7/04B60J7/198
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,214,713
App. No.
17/770,608
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, object of the present invention, comprises a tonneau cover fixing and assembly system comprising a front profile ( 10 ) provided with a specific format that ensures greater ease in fixing and removing the tarp ( 40 ), such as to add a double sealing system and side profiles ( 20 ) having a specific shape, improving the sealing, operation and attachment system to the vehicle bed. The side profiles ( 20 ) also have a geometry that provides a system for fitting the tarp through a click, resulting in greater ease of use for the tarp and making the opening and closing operation very quick and practical. These profiles ( 20 ) also receive the C-clamps ( 70 ) that allow to fasten the tarp ( 40 ) structure to the bed.

Claims (17)

1. A tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, comprising:

a front profile ( 10 ) equipped with a first bas-relief ( 11 ) having a groove ( 111 ) that allows the sliding fit of a plastic front profile ( 41 ) fixed to a tarp ( 40 ), a lower projection ( 12 ) provided with a second groove ( 121 ) for fastening by sliding fit—of a front seal rubber ( 50 ), a second bas-relief ( 13 ) for fit fastening a seal rubber ( 131 ) sealing between the tonneau and a vehicle bed, a third bas-relief ( 14 ) equipped with flaps ( 141 ) allowing fixing structures ( 60 ) equipped with elastic cord ( 63 ) for fixing the tarp ( 40 ) when rolled up and at the ends of the front profile ( 10 ), along an upper portion of profile ( 10 ), holes ( 15 ) are arranged that allow a fitting of structural steel sections ( 30 ) through a click, said structure ( 60 ) which is provided with a first projection ( 61 ) that allows the sliding fit along the third bas-relief ( 14 ) of the front profile ( 10 ), a pair of flaps ( 62 ) for fixing the elastic cord-( 63 ) in; a central portion of the front profile

side profiles ( 20 ) are provided with a fourth bas-relief ( 21 ) that has a third groove ( 211 ) for fixing side plastic profile ( 42 ) of the tarp ( 40 ), said side plastic profile ( 42 ) having a second projection ( 421 ) that allows the fitting together with the third groove ( 211 ) by pressure, in a lower portion of the side profiles ( 20 ) is arranged a fifth bas-relief ( 22 ) for fastening by fitting the sealing rubber ( 221 ), in a rear portion of the side profiles ( 20 ) a fourth groove ( 23 ) is arranged allowing the fixing of locking structures ( 70 ), from the tonneau cover to the vehicle bed and at ends of the side profiles ( 20 ), next to the upper portion, holes ( 24 ) are arranged for fitting with the structural steel sections ( 30 ) through click, the locking structure ( 70 ) which is provided with a first piece ( 71 ) having a second flap ( 711 ) that fits with the fourth groove ( 23 ) and a third projection ( 712 ) that fits with the second piece ( 72 ), the third projection ( 712 ) which has a first housing ( 713 ) for positioning a first nut when the locking structure ( 70 ) is screwed from below, and the second piece ( 72 ) has a spacing ( 721 ) for fitting the third projection ( 712 ) and a third flap ( 722 ) that allows locking with the vehicle bed, the third flap ( 722 ) having in a lower portion a second housing ( 723 ) for positioning a second nut when the locking structure ( 70 ) is screwed from above;

the structural steel sections ( 30 ), connecting the front profile ( 10 ) and the side profiles ( 20 ), have a fourth projection ( 31 ) that works as a snap-in guide and locking rod ( 311 ) equipped with a tooth that snaps together the hole ( 24 ) of the side profiles ( 20 ) through a click, a fifth projection ( 32 ) having a locking rod ( 321 ) provided with guides and a tooth that fits with a respective hole from the the hole ( 15 ) of the front profile ( 10 ) through one-click; and

the tarp ( 40 ) is provided on its front portion with the plastic profile ( 41 ) and on its side portions with the side plastic profile ( 42 ), and the fixing of the plastic profile ( 41 ) and the second plastic profile ( 42 ) with the tarp ( 40 ) occurs by sewing a hem ( 43 ), the tarp ( 40 ) receives the provision of crossbars ( 80 ) supporting the tarp, the crossbars ( 80 ) which are provided with tips ( 81 ) sewn between a side face of the tarp ( 40 ) and the side plastic profile ( 42 ); on a rear portion of the tonneau cover a rear profile ( 90 ) is arranged provided with second structural steel sections ( 300 ) of specific format that allows the connection with the tips ( 201 ) of the side profiles ( 20 ), said second structural steel sections ( 300 ), which are provided with a locking structure ( 301 ), said second structural steel sections ( 300 ) that are connected to the rear profile ( 90 ) and the tips ( 201 ) connected to the side profiles ( 20 ), a pair of actuators ( 91 ) are positioned in pairs in a central portion of the rear profile ( 90 ), so that a total release of the system may occur by activating only one pair of the pair of actuators ( 91 ) or by activating any pair of actuators interconnected through a set of four rods ( 92 A), ( 92 B), ( 92 C) and ( 92 D) being two rods connected to the pins ( 93 ) and the other two rods connected between the pair of actuators ( 91 ), which allows a transmission of movement.

2. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1 , wherein structure ( 60 ) comprises:

a second structure ( 65 ) provided with a side flap ( 64 ) for fixing the second structure ( 65 ) fixed to the opposite end of the elastic cord ( 63 ), the second structure ( 65 ) having a pair of flaps ( 651 ) that allow the elastic cord fixing and a tab ( 652 ) for positioning along the side flap ( 64 ).

3. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 2 , wherein—the structure ( 60 ) fixing the tarp ( 40 ) holding when rolled up, fitting the tab ( 652 ) of the structure ( 60 ) in a tab ( 34 ) of the structural steel sections ( 30 ).

4. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1 , wherein the side profiles ( 20 ) allow fixing of the locking structures ( 70 ) of the tonneau cover with the fourth groove ( 23 ) in a sliding manner.

5. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1 , wherein the first piece ( 71 ) and the second piece ( 72 ) are provided with an upper hole ( 73 ) that allows fixing and a junction between the parts using a bolt and nut above or below.

6. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 5 , wherein, when up tightening, the nut is placed in the second housing ( 723 ) located on the underside of the second piece ( 72 ).

7. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 5 , wherein, when down tightening, the nut is placed inside the first housing ( 713 ) which is located on a front part of the first piece ( 71 ).

8. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1 , wherein the structural steel sections ( 30 ) has a fifth groove ( 33 ) with a fixing portion of the front profile ( 10 ) that aligns with the groove ( 111 ) in order to allow the sliding movement of the plastic profile ( 41 ) of the tarp ( 40 ), allowing removal of the tarp ( 40 ), when rolled up, with no need to disassemble the entire system.

9. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1 , wherein the tips ( 81 ) have a fourth flap ( 811 ) that follows a shape of the side profiles ( 20 ) so that an end of the fourth flap ( 811 ) is hemmed with the tarp ( 40 ).

10. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1 , wherein the actuators ( 91 ) are modular.

11. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1 , wherein slots ( 36 ) are arranged in a lower portion of the structural steel sections ( 30 ) for positioning a piece ( 37 ) for locking the tarp ( 40 ), the piece ( 37 ) which is provided with holes ( 371 ) allowing fixing and positioning of the slots ( 36 ).

12. The tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, according to claim 1 , wherein a sixth bas-relief ( 35 ) is arranged in a lower portion of the structural steel sections ( 30 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2022
From: MANTOVANI, JULIANO SCHEER
To: KEKO ACESSÓRIOS S/A
Reel/Frame 059656/0605 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240140298A1 · May 2, 2024
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