IP Library Granted Patent US 12,281,515
Granted Patent B2
US 12,281,515 · App. 18/203,178 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Capacitive touch vehicle accessory

Inventors: Chad Carter (Manchester, MI); Jerome Facchinello (Grand Blanc, MI)
Assignee: Extang Corporation
E05F15/73B60J7/141B60Q3/30B60Q3/80B62D33/0273G08C17/02E05Y2400/44E05Y2400/45E05Y2400/86E05Y2900/546G08C2201/91
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,281,515
App. No.
18/203,178
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for a vehicle having an accessory positioned along the vehicle. The system may also include a sensor located along the vehicle in wireless communication with the accessory, wherein the sensor triggers activation of the accessory based on input from an external source.

Claims (17)

1. A method of operating a tonneau cover for a vehicle, comprising:

communicating one or more signals from a touch sensor to the tonneau cover to cause the tonneau cover to perform one or more actions;

wherein the touch sensor is attached to or located on an exterior part of the vehicle;

wherein the touch sensor is activated by an external source;

wherein the method comprises deactivating the touch sensor to prevent the communicating of the one or more signals to the tonneau cover; and

wherein the tonneau cover includes one or more accessories that include one or more lights, one or more latches, and/or one or more actuators, and the one or more accessories are actuated or controlled via the one or more signals.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor is attached to or located on a bed cap.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more actions include moving the tonneau cover from or between an open position and a closed position or vice versa and/or activating one or more lights.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive touch sensor is activatable by an external source.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the external source activates a capacitive source after the external source is located within a defined proximity of the capacitive touch sensor.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the capacitive touch sensor is deactivated when the external source is located outside of the defined proximity.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the method comprises automatically communicating the one or more signals to the tonneau cover after the external source is located within a defined distance or a proximity circle.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the method comprises customizing a size and/or position of the proximity circle.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the external source is a key fob, a cellular device, and/or a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises incrementally controlling the tonneau cover with the one or more signals.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein one or more wires connect the sensor and the tonneau cover.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein herein the one or more signals are communicated between the sensor and the tonneau cover wirelessly.

Assignments (4)
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 May 30, 2023
From: CARTER, CHAD; FACCHINELLO, JEROME
To: TECTUM HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063792/0905 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2023
From: TECTUM HOLDINGS, INC.
To: EXTANG CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063794/0458 →