Folding cargo bay cover for pickup truck
A cargo bay cover for a pickup truck includes at least first and second panels hingedly connected to each other. The first panel includes a release mechanism including a lever arm that is movable between a released position and an unreleased position, and a lock that is movable to a locked position preventing movement of the lever arm. The cover includes a resiliently deformable panel latch that is released when the first panel is opened and that is capable of flexing around a keeper if the cover is opened incorrectly. The cover includes a unique mounting clamp for attachment to the pickup truck. A second half of the mounting clamp rides up a shoulder on a first half of the mounting clamp as the halves are drawn together, enabling the to pinch in two directions—one parallel to the drawing force and another perpendicular to the drawing force.
1. A truck tonneau cover assembly for a truck having an open storage area, said assembly comprising:
a keeper adapted to be mounted on the truck adjacent the storage area; and
a tonneau cover adapted to be mounted on the truck over the storage area, said cover including a first panel and a second panel hinged to said first panel, said second hinged panel moveable between closed and opened positions with respect to the storage area, said cover further including a latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latch being under said keeper when said latch is in said latched position, said latch being horizontally offset from said keeper when said latch is in said unlatched position, said latch including means for urging said latch toward said latched position, said cover further including means for moving said latch automatically from said latched position to said unlatched position as said second panel moves from said closed position to said open position.
2. The truck tonneau cover assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said latch is sufficiently rigid to retain said cover in position when said latch is in said latched position and when said cover experiences normal loads; and
said latch is sufficiently resiliently flexible to enable said latch to flex from said latched position vertically past said keeper when said cover experiences abnormally high loads.
3. The truck tonneau cover assembly of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said latch is made of spring steel.
4. The truck tonneau cover assembly of claim 3 wherein said latch is a spring steel plate that is pivotally mounted on said first panel, wherein a torsion spring is attached to said plate and said first panel to bias said plate in said latched position.
5. The truck tonneau cover assembly of claim 4 wherein said means for moving said latch automatically from said latched to said unlatched position is a strap.
6. The truck tonneau cover assembly of claim 5 wherein said second hinged panel includes a release mechanism and a lock supported within said second hinged panel, said release mechanism including a pivotable lever arm, a pair of latch mechanisms on opposite ends of said second hinged panel, and flexible connectors connected between said lever arm and each of said latch mechanisms, said lever arm movable between a released position in which said latch mechanisms are retracted and an unreleased position in which said latch mechanisms are extended, said lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said lock when in said locked position preventing said lever arm from moving between said unreleased position and said released position, said lock when in said unlocked position permitting said lever arm to move between said unreleased position and said released position.
7. A truck tonneau cover assembly for a truck having an open storage area, said assembly comprising:
a keeper adapted to be mounted on the truck adjacent the storage area; and
a tonneau cover adapted to be mounted on the truck over the storage area, said cover including a first hinged panel moveable between closed and opened positions, said cover further including a latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latch engaging said keeper when said latch is in said latched position, said latch being free of said keeper when said latch is in said unlatched position;
a strap connected to said latch, said strap capable of being pulled to move said latch into said unlatched position; and
wherein said latch is sufficiently rigid to retain said cover in position when said cover experiences normal loads and said latch is sufficiently resiliently flexible to enable it to flex around said keeper when said cover experiences abnormally high loads,
wherein said latch is a spring steel plate that is pivotally mounted on said cover, wherein a torsion spring is attached to said plate and said cover to bias said plate in said latched position,
wherein said tonneau cover includes a second hinged panel connected to said first hinged panel, said first hinged panel including a release mechanism and a lock supported within said first hinged panel, said release mechanism including a pivotable lever arm, a pair of latch mechanisms on opposite ends of said first hinged panel, and flexible connectors connected between said lever arm and each of said latch mechanisms, said lever arm movable between a released position in which said latch mechanisms are retracted and an unreleased position in which said latch mechanisms are extended, said lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said lock when in said locked position preventing said lever arm from moving between said unreleased position and said released position, said lock when in said unlocked position permitting said lever arm to move between said unreleased position and said released position,
wherein said strap includes a first end connected to said latch and a second end connected to said first hinged panel, said strap moving said latch to said unlatched position when said first hinged panel is opened.
8. A truck tonneau cover assembly for a truck having an open storage area, said assembly comprising:
a keeper adapted to be mounted on the truck adjacent the storage area; and
a tonneau cover adapted to be mounted on the truck over the storage area, said cover including a first panel and a second panel hinged to said first panel, said second hinged panel moveable between closed and opened positions with respect to the storage area, said cover further including a latch movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latch being under said keeper when said latch is in said latched position, said latch being horizontally offset from said keeper when said latch is in said unlatched position, said latch being sufficiently rigid to retain said cover in position when said latch is in said latched position and when said cover experiences normal loads, said latch being sufficiently resiliently flexible to enable said latch to flex from said latched position vertically past said keeper when said cover experiences abnormally high loads.
9. The truck tonneau cover assembly of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said latch is made of spring steel.
10. The truck tonneau cover assembly of claim 9 wherein said latch is a spring steel plate that is pivotally mounted on said cover, wherein a torsion spring is attached to said plate and said cover to bias said plate in said latched position.