Granted Patent B2

US 12,246,585 · App. 18/141,058 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

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

Abstract

Claims (18)

1. A tonneau system comprising:

a. a retraction system including:

i. a track;

b. a tonneau cover including:

i. a plurality of tonneau sections including:

1. one or more latch bar connectors, each including a male latch connector and a female latch connector;

ii. a tonneau cap including;

1. one or more tail connectors, each including a male connector and a female connector;

wherein the tonneau cover is movable relative to the track between a stored position and a closed position, the male connector engages the female latch connector and the female connector engages the male latch connector to form a fixed connection between the tonneau cap and the plurality of tonneau sections, and the fixed connection precludes the tonneau cap from pivoting relative to the plurality of tonneau sections as the tonneau cover moves relative to the track between the closed position and the stored position, and

wherein the retraction system moves the tonneau cover between a closed position and a stored position, the tonneau cap extends beyond the track of the retraction system when the tonneau cover is in the closed position and the connection between the one or more latch bar connectors and the one or more tail connectors support the tonneau cap from sagging when the tonneau cap extends beyond the track of the retraction system.

2. The tonneau system according to claim 1 , wherein the tonneau cap is a rear-most part of the tonneau cover and extends cantilever from the plurality of tonneau sections when the tonneau cover is in the closed position.

3. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the male connector and the female connector extend at an angle relative to each other of between about 60 degrees and about 105 degrees.

4. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the male latch connector and the female latch connector extend at an angle relative to each other of between about 60 degrees and about 105 degrees.

5. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the tail connector includes a lock connector and the latch bar connector includes a lock latch connector that receives the lock connector to assist in connecting the tail connector to the latch bar connector.

6. The tonneau system of claim 5 , wherein the lock connector extends into the lock latch connector and has a curved portion.

7. The tonneau system of claim 1 wherein the male latch connector, the male connector, or both include a bulbous portion that prevents the male latch connector from being removed from the female connector, the male connector from being removed from the female latch connector, or both.

8. The tonneau system of claim 1 , wherein the tail connector, the latch bar connector, or both are made of or include aluminum, a thermoset, a stamped metal piece, or a combination thereof.

9. The tonneau system according to claim 1 , wherein the male connector is arranged generally perpendicular to the female connector to form the fixed connection between the tonneau cap and the plurality of tonneau sections.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (80)