IP Library Granted Patent US 12,280,644
Granted Patent B2
US 12,280,644 · App. 18/405,047 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Folding cover attachment systems

Inventors: Eugene A. Dylewski, II (Granger, IN); Christopher David Mattison (Granger, IN); John William Bevis, III (Mishawaka, IN); Thomas Augustine Hubbard (South Bend, IN)
Assignee: Leer Group
B60J7/198B60J7/141
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,280,644
App. No.
18/405,047
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A truck that includes a bed section located rear of a cab section where the bed section is bounded on each side by opposing first and second upward-extending side walls, respectively. The truck includes a tonneau cover which has a first panel section pivotable with respect to the opposing first and second upward-extending side walls. A latching assembly is attached to the first panel section that selectively secures and releases the first panel section with respect to the first and second upward-extending side walls of the truck. The latching assembly includes at least one adjustable pinch latch assembly. The pinch latch assembly includes a latch handle portion and a latch base located on the first panel section adjacent the latch handle portion.

Claims (40)

1. A tonneau cover for use on a truck bed of a pickup truck, the tonneau cover comprising:

at least one covering configured to span at least a portion of the truck bed of the pickup truck;

at least one longitudinally extending rail configured to be positioned on a wall of the truck bed;

at least one clamp assembly configured to selectively couple to the at least one longitudinally extending rail, the at least one clamp assembly including:

a clamp back that includes a base extending therefrom and a top end spaced apart from the base; and

a clamp base facing the clamp back;

wherein the clamp base includes a clamp mount;

wherein the clamp mount includes a first clamp mount flange extending there from and a second clamp mount flange extending away from the first clamp mount flange; and

wherein the first clamp mount flange and the second clamp mount flange engage a clamp slot formed on the at least one longitudinally extending rail.

2. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp mount flange of the clamp mount extends upwardly with respect to the at least one longitudinally extending rail and the second clamp mount flange extends downwardly opposite the first clamp mount flange with respect to the at least one longitudinally extending rail.

3. The tonneau cover of claim 1 , further comprising a clamping screw that includes a head and a threaded body.

4. The tonneau cover of claim 3 , further comprising an adjustment screw that includes a head and a threaded body.

5. The tonneau cover of claim 3 , wherein the clamp back also includes a clamping screw bore disposed there through to receive a portion of the threaded body of the clamping screw.

6. The tonneau cover of claim 5 , wherein the clamp base includes a clamping screw slot disposed there through to receive another portion of the threaded body of the clamping screw such that the clamping screw is movable along the clamping screw slot when the at least one clamp assembly is in an unclamped position.

7. The tonneau cover of claim 4 , wherein the clamp base includes an adjustment screw bore opposite the base of the clamp back.

8. The tonneau cover of claim 7 , wherein the threaded body of the adjustment screw is disposed through the adjustment screw bore of the clamp base at an orientation that is transverse to the clamping screw, and wherein the adjustment screw is engageable with the base of the clamp back to move the clamp back with respect to the clamp base.

9. The tonneau cover of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the threaded body of the clamping screw that moves the clamp back relative to the clamp base is at an orientation transverse to the orientation of the adjustment screw.

10. The tonneau cover of claim 9 , wherein a clamping screw bore is disposed through the clamp back and has a threaded periphery that complements the threaded body of the clamping screw to couple the clamp back to the clamping screw, and wherein the adjustment screw bore is disposed through the clamp base and has a threaded periphery that complements the threaded body of the adjustment screw to couple the adjustment screw to the clamp base.

11. A tonneau cover for use on a truck bed of a pickup truck, the tonneau cover comprising:

at least one covering configured to span at least a portion of the truck bed of the pickup truck;

at least one clamp assembly configured to selectively couple at least a portion of the tonneau cover to a wall of the truck bed, the at least one clamp assembly comprising:

a clamp back; and

a clamp base;

wherein the clamp base includes a clamp mount; and

wherein the clamp mount includes a first clamp mount flange extending there from and a second clamp mount flange extending away from the first clamp mount flange.

12. The tonneau cover of claim 11 , further comprising at least one longitudinally extending rail, wherein the first clamp mount flange and the second clamp mount flange engage a clamp slot formed on the at least one longitudinally extending rail.

13. The tonneau cover of claim 11 , further comprising a clamping screw that includes a head and a threaded body.

14. The tonneau cover of claim 13 , further comprising an adjustment screw that includes a head and a threaded body.

15. The tonneau cover of claim 14 , wherein the clamp base also includes an adjustment screw bore.

16. The tonneau cover of claim 15 , wherein the threaded body of the adjustment screw is disposed through the adjustment screw bore of the clamp base and is engageable with the clamp back to move the clamp back substantially parallel with respect to the clamp base.

17. The tonneau cover of claim 12 , wherein the first clamp mount flange of the clamp mount extends upwardly with respect to the at least one longitudinally extending rail and the second clamp mount flange extends downwardly opposite the first clamp mount flange with respect to the at least one longitudinally extending rail.

18. A tonneau cover for use on a truck bed of a pickup truck, the tonneau cover comprising:

at least one covering configured to span at least a portion of the truck bed of the pickup truck;

at least one clamp assembly including:

a clamp back; and

a clamp base facing the clamp back;

wherein the clamp base includes a clamp mount; and

wherein the clamp mount includes a first clamp mount flange extending there from and a second clamp mount flange extending away from the first clamp mount flange.

19. The tonneau cover of claim 18 , further comprising at least one longitudinally extending rail, wherein the first clamp mount flange and the second clamp mount flange engage a clamp slot formed on the at least one longitudinally extending rail.

20. The tonneau cover of claim 19 , wherein the first clamp mount flange of the clamp mount extends upwardly with respect to the at least one longitudinally extending rail and the second clamp mount flange extends downwardly opposite the first clamp mount flange with respect to the at least one longitudinally extending rail.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2025
From: LEER GROUP
To: TRUCK ACCESSORIES GROUP, LLC D/B/A LEER GROUP
Reel/Frame 073126/0503 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2024
From: DYLEWSKI, EUGENE A., II; MATTISON, CHRISTOPHER DAVID; BEVIS, JOHN WILLIAM, III; HUBBARD, THOMAS AUGUSTINE
To: TRUCK ACCESSORIES GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 066029/0099 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 5, 2024
From: TRUCK ACCESSORIES GROUP, LLC
To: LEER GROUP
Reel/Frame 066206/0547 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17946598 · Sep 16, 2022
Continuation 17066742 · Oct 9, 2020
Continuation 16166474 · Oct 22, 2018
Provisional Application 62577920 · Oct 27, 2017
Related Publication 20240140182A1 · May 2, 2024
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