IP Library Granted Patent US 8,714,622
Granted Patent B2
US 8,714,622 · App. 13/660,104 · Granted May 6, 2014

Spring Retainer for tonneau cover

Inventors: Michael R. Spencer (Hubbard, NE); Tim Nelson (Yankton, SD)
Assignee: Truxedo, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,714,622
App. No.
13/660,104
Granted
May 6, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tonneau system for a pickup bed comprising a bracket system connectable with a sidewall of the pickup bed, a header system, and a spring retainer system operably coupled between the bracket system and the header system. The spring retainer system can be biased into a locked position wherein the header system is coupled with the bracket system. The spring retainer system can be positionable into an unlocked position wherein the header system is decoupled from the bracket system.

Claims (38)

1. A tonneau system for a pickup bed, said tonneau system comprising:

a side rail connectable with a sidewall of the pickup bed;

a header system having a header member and a channel extending at least partially through said header member; and

a retainer system operably coupled between said side rail and said header system, said retainer system having a header retaining member slidably disposed within said channel of said header, said header retaining member being positionable into a header engaging position coupling said header system to said side rail and positionable into a header disengaging position decoupling said header system from said side rail, said retainer system further having a header lock being selectively coupled within at least a portion of said channel of said header system, said header lock being biased into a locked position whereby said header lock prevents said header retaining member to move from said header engaging position to said header disengaging position, said header lock being positionable into an unlocked position whereby said header lock is depressed to a position at least partially within said channel thereby permitting said header retaining member to slide within said channel from said header engaging position to said header disengaging position.

2. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein said header lock engages said header retaining member when said header lock is in said locked position.

3. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein said header lock retaining said header retaining member when said header lock is in said unlocked position.

4. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein said channel of said header member comprises a slot extending therealong having a width.

5. The tonneau system according to claim 4 wherein said header lock is selectively coupled to said header system via a fastening system, said fastening system having a fastener extending through said header lock and said slot of said channel, said fastener threadedly engaging a nut such that said fastening system engages and retains said header lock in a position relative to said header.

6. The tonneau system according to claim 4 wherein said header lock comprises:

a body portion having a width being greater than said width of said slot;

an elbow portion extending from an end of said body portion, said elbow portion having a width that is less than a width of said slot and extending through said slot; and

a head portion extending from said elbow portion, said head portion having a width greater than said width of said slot.

7. The tonneau system according to claim 6 wherein said elbow portion is engageable with said header retaining member when said header lock is in said locked position.

8. The tonneau system according to claim 4 wherein said header retaining member comprises:

a body portion having a distal engaging portion; and

a slot guide member extending from said body portion, said slot guide member being received and slidably retained within said channel, a portion of said slot guide member extending through said slot of said channel,

wherein said body portion and said slot guide member together are positionable into said header engaging position coupling said header system to said side rail such that said distal engaging portion engages said side rail and positionable into said header disengaging position.

9. The tonneau system according to claim 8 wherein said body portion of said header retaining member further comprises an abutment portion disposed opposite of said distal engaging portion, said abutment portion being engageable with said header lock in said locked position.

10. The tonneau system according to claim 1 wherein said header lock moves in a first direction between said locked position and said unlocked position, said header retaining member moves in a second direction between said header engaging position and said header disengaging position, said first direction being orthogonal to said second direction.

11. A tonneau system for a pickup bed, said tonneau system comprising:

a side rail connectable with a sidewall of the pickup bed;

a header member having a channel extending at least partially therethrough, said channel having a slot formed there along; and

a header retaining member slidably disposed within said channel of said header, said header retaining member being positionable into a header engaging position coupling said header member to said side rail and positionable into a header disengaging position decoupling said header member from said side rail; and

a header lock being selectively coupled within at least a portion of said channel of said header member, said header lock being biased into a locked position whereby said header lock prevents said header retaining member to move from said header engaging position to said header disengaging position, said header lock being positionable into an unlocked position whereby said header lock is depressed to a position at least partially within said channel thereby permitting said header retaining member to slide within said channel from said header engaging position to said header disengaging position.

12. The tonneau system according to claim 11 wherein said header lock is selectively coupled to said header system via a fastening system, said fastening system having a fastener extending through said header lock and said slot of said channel, said fastener threadedly engaging a nut such that said fastening system engages and retains said header lock in a position relative to said header.

13. The tonneau system according to claim 11 wherein said header lock comprises:

a body portion having a width being greater than said width of said slot;

an elbow portion extending from an end of said body portion, said elbow portion having a width that is less than a width of said slot and extending through said slot; and

a head portion extending from said elbow portion, said head portion having a width greater than said width of said slot.

14. The tonneau system according to claim 13 wherein said elbow portion is engageable with said header retaining member when said header lock is in said locked position.

15. The tonneau system according to claim 11 wherein said header retaining member comprises:

a body portion having a distal engaging portion; and

a slot guide member extending from said body portion, said slot guide member being received and slidably retained within said channel, a portion of said slot guide member extending through said slot of said channel,

wherein said body portion and said slot guide member together are positionable into said header engaging position coupling said header system to said side rail such that said distal engaging portion engages said side rail and positionable into said header disengaging position.

16. The tonneau system according to claim 15 wherein said body portion of said header retaining member further comprises an abutment portion disposed opposite of said distal engaging portion, said abutment portion being engageable with said header lock in said locked position.

17. The tonneau system according to claim 15 wherein said distal engaging portion comprises a tapered end portion.

18. The tonneau system according to claim 15 wherein said slot guide comprises a cantilevered portion extending therefrom.

19. The tonneau system according to claim 11 wherein said header lock moves in a first direction between said locked position and said unlocked position, said header retaining member moves in a second direction between said header engaging position and said header disengaging position, said first direction being orthogonal to said second direction.

Assignments (21)
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EXTANG CORPORATION; TRUXEDO INC.; BEDRUG, INC.; UNDERCOVER, INC.; RETRAX HOLDINGS, LLC; ADVANTAGE TRUCK ACCESSORIES INC.; LAURMARK ENTERPRISES, INC.; A.R.E. ACCESSORIES LLC; N-FAB, INC.; RUGGED LINER, INC.; HUSKY LINERS, INC.; OMIX-ADA, INC.; LUND, INC.; ROLL-N-LOCK CORPORATION; LUND MOTION PRODUCTS, INC.; BUSHWACKER, INC.
Reel/Frame 055193/0892 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2021
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRUXEDO, INC.
Reel/Frame 055099/0587 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2021
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: TRUXEDO, INC.
Reel/Frame 055099/0560 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: TRUXEDO, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055176/0406 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TL) Recorded Jan 29, 2021
From: TRUXEDO, INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055175/0408 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (INDENTURE) Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: TRUXEDO, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049673/0148 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 033429/0684 Recorded May 20, 2017
From: ACAS, LLC (F/K/A AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.)
To: TRUXEDO INC.
Reel/Frame 042512/0782 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 039843/0220 Recorded May 20, 2017
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: EXTANG CORPORATION; TRUXEDO INC.; BEDRUG, INC.; UNDERCOVER, INC.; RETRAX HOLDINGS, LLC; ADVANTAGE TRUCK ACCESSORIES INC.; LAURMARK ENTERPRISES, INC.; A.R.E. ACCESSORIES LLC; N-FAB, INC.
Reel/Frame 042512/0749 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded May 18, 2017
From: TRUXEDO INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042499/0579 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded May 16, 2017
From: TRUXEDO INC.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042481/0725 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2016
From: EXTANG CORPORATION; TRUXEDO, INC.; BEDRUG, INC.; UNDERCOVER, INC.; RETRAX HOLDINGS, LLC; ADVANTAGE TRUCK ACCESSORIES, INC.; LAURMARK ENTERPRISES, INC.; A.R.E. ACCESSORIES, LLC; N-FAB, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039843/0220 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN TRADEMARK AND PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Aug 25, 2016
From: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: TRUXEDO, INC.
Reel/Frame 039825/0417 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 28, 2014
From: TRUXEDO, INC.
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033429/0232 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 28, 2014
From: TRUXEDO, INC.
To: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033429/0684 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT FILED 3/19/2014 AT REEL/FRAME: 032476/0548 Recorded Jul 28, 2014
From: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC
To: TRUXEDO, INC.
Reel/Frame 033429/0566 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT FILED 3/19/2014 AT REEL/FRAME:032477/0289 Recorded Jul 28, 2014
From: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.
To: TRUXEDO, INC.
Reel/Frame 033428/0749 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2014
From: TRUXEDO, INC.
To: MADISON CAPITAL FUNDING LLC
Reel/Frame 032476/0548 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2014
From: TRUXEDO, INC.
To: AMERICAN CAPITAL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 032477/0289 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2013
From: SPENCER, MICHAEL R.; NELSON, TIM
To: TRUXEDO, INC.
Reel/Frame 030033/0012 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61552006 · Oct 27, 2011
Related Publication 20130106134A1 · May 2, 2013