Cover for pickup truck bed

Claim 2

A cover for a pickup truck bed having side walls (38) and a front (64) and a rear end wall (78), the cover comprising at least two cover panels (12,14) extending across the side walls for covering an area of the truck bed, locking means (30,32,34) for locking each of the panels to the truck bed, and a channel-­shaped hinge portion (20,22) on each panels at the end edge adjacent the other panel, the hinge portions co­operating to form a hinge connection for relative pivoting of the panels about an axis along the end edges.

Claim 3

A cover as claimed in claim1 wherein the two panels comprise centre and rear panels (12,14), wherein a front panel (10) covers the truck bed area forward of the area covered by the centre panel, the three panels being similarly sized and configured and each having a similar forwardly projected channel-shaped hinge portion (22) and a similar rearwardly projected channel-shaped hinge portion (20), wherein an anchor strip (62) affixed to the front end of the truck bed has a similar rearwardly projected channel-shaped hinge portion for hingedly interlocking relationship with the forwardly projected hinge portion of the front panel, and the rearwardly projected hinge portion of the front panel and the forwardly projected hinge portion of the second panel are in overlapped relationship whereby the entire truck bed is covered by the panels and accessible by opening of selected ones of the panels.

Claim 4

A cover for a pickup truck bed having side walls (38), a front wall (64) and a tailgate (78), the cover comprising three similarly sized and configured cover panels for covering the truck bed, one being a rear panel (14), one a centre panel (12), and one a front panel (10), the panels each extending across the truck bed width to sealingly engage with weather strips (74) applied to the top edges of the side walls, and with the rear panel sealing engaging with a weather strip applied to the top edge of the closed tailgate, each panel having a forwardly projected channel-shaped hinge portion (22) and a rearwardly projected channel-­shaped hinge portion (20), the adjacent hinge portions of adjacent panels nesting together in overlapping relationship, an anchor strip (62) attached to the front wall and in sealing engagement with a weather strip applied to the top edge thereof, the anchor strip having a rearwardly projected channel-shaped hinge portion in interlocking hinge connection with the forwardly projected hinge portion of the front panel to permit opening and closing thereof and the hinge connection, the rearwardly projected hinge portion of the centre panel and the forwardly projected hinge portion of the rear panel being in interlocking hinge connection to permit relative pivoting for opening of either of the panels with the other of the panels closed, and the rearwardly projected hinge portion of the front panel and the forwardly projected hinge portion of the centre panel being in overlapping relation only, and permitting thereby pivoting of the panels about their opposite hinge connections.

Claim 5

A cover for a pickup truck bed having side walls (38), a front wall (64) and a tailgate (78), the cover comprising three similarly sized and configured cover panels for covering the truck bed, one being a rear panel (14), one a centre panel (12), and one a front panel (10), the panels each extending across the truck bed width to sealingly engage with weather strips (74) applied to the top edges of the side walls, and with the rear panel sealing engaging with a weather strip applied to the top edge of the closed tailgate, each panel having a forwardly projected channel-shaped hinge portion (22) and a rearwardly projected channel-­shaped hinge portion (20), the adjacent hinge portions of adjacent panels nesting together in overlapping relationship, an anchor strip (62) attached to the front wall and in sealing engagement with a weather strip applied to the top edge thereof, the anchor strip having a rearwardly projected channel-shaped hinge portion in interlocking hinge connection with the forwardly projected hinge portion of the front panel to permit opening and closing thereof and the hinge connection, the rearwardly projected hinge portion of the centre panel and the forwardly projected hinge portion of the rear panel being in interlocking hinge connection to permit relative pivoting for opening of either of the panels with the other of the panels closed, and the rearwardly projected hinge portion of the front panel and the forwardly projected hinge portion of the centre panel being in overlapping relation only, and permitting thereby pivoting of the panels about their opposite hinge connections.

Claim 6

A cover as claimed in claim 3 having a first brace member (24) affixed to one of the anchor strip (62) and front panel (10) and extended into supporting engagement with the hinge portion of the other of the anchor strip and front panel, and a second brace member (24) affixed to one of the centre panel (12) and rear panel (14) and extended into supporting engagement with the hinge portion of the other of the centre panel and rear panel, the brace members establishing an interlocking hinge connection between the hinge portions in contrast to free overlapping hinge portions between the front and centre panels.

Claim 7

A cover as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein an overcover (80) is fixedly attached to the rearwardly extended hinge portion (20) of the rear panel (14), flanges (84) depending from the overcover and into engagement with the weather strip (76) on the tailgate, the flanges and the weather strip mated to interlock with the tailgate and rear panel when closed to prevent opening of the tailgate without first opening the rear panel.

Claim 8

A cover as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 having a locking means (30,32,34) for each panel to releasably and selectively lock the cover panel to the side walls of the truck bed.

Claim 9

A cover as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 6 wherein the lock means of each panel includes locking rods (30,32) arranged to be movably projected out of the panel sides, and rod receiving locking lugs (36) affixed to the inner side walls of the truck bed and positioned thereon to receive the locking rods of the panels with the panels closed.

Claim 10

A cover as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lock means comprises a toggle mechanism (28) connected to the locking rods (30,32) for extending and retracting the locking rods to lock and unlock the cover panels from the truck bed side walls, and a handle (46) connected to the toggle mechanism and extended through the panel to be engaged by an operator for locking and unlocking the panels.

Claim 11

A cover as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the locking rods (30,32) and/or the locking lugs (36) have beveled end portions, the beveled end portions, upon locking action, causing the panels to be drawn down onto the side walls into tight sealing and rattle inhibiting relation.

Claim 12

A cover as claimed in any one of claims 1-8 having stop means (92) defining a stop position for one of the panels with the panel folded open past the vertical position, and a brace member (24) fixed to the other panel and positioned under the hinge portion of the one panel for support thereof.

Claim 13

A cover as claimed in claim 10 wherein the or each brace member (24) is resiliently bendable to provide break-away release of hinge portions (20,22) upon application of excessive pivotal force of the one panel about the stop position.

Claim 14

A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each hinge connection (20,22) permits relative sliding of the panels along the pivotal axis of the hinge connection.

Claim 15

A cover as claimed in claim 12 having restricting means (18s) provided on the panels to restrict relative sliding of the panels with the panels in the closed position.

Claim 16

A cover as claimed in claim 13 wherein the restricting means comprises a side edge (18s) overlap of the panel that depends over the interlocked hinge portions with the panels closed to thereby prevent the relative sliding, and which pivots away from the interlocked hinge portions (20,22) with the panel open.

Claim 17

A cover as claimed in any preceding claim having key lockable means (86,88) for each panel to selectively key lock the panel to the truck bed.

Claim 18

A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hinge portions (20,22) having beveled side edges that effect a camming action for aligning the panels when slightly misaligned in the open position, the camming action forcing alignment upon closing of the panels.

Claim 19

A cover as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the channel-shaped hinge portions are sealingly overlapped and cooperatively produce a water drain to channel and discharge water over the sides of the truck bed.