US3572821A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cover for truck beds
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-07-31
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Granted: 1971-03-30
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Expires: 1989-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A removable cover for pickup truck bed is disclosed. The cover includes a rigid frame with stakes, the frame seating upon the top edges of the bed and the stakes fitting into recesses typically provided therein for that purpose. A pair of catches carried wholly by the cover along each side thereof engage the flanges typically provided along the two sides of the truck bed, the catches along each side being conjointly operated by a crankshaft. The catches are spring biased to resiliently hold the cover to the bed, and at the same time, when the two catches along one side of the cover are released, to permit that side to be lifted against the spring pressure of the two catches along the other side. Additionally, the catches may be designed so that the rear two only may be released, whence the rear of the cover may be lifted against the spring pressure of the front two catches.
Inventors
- 👤 Danial Roe Van Antwerp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:10
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J7/00; B60J7/08; B60J7/16; B60J7/1607; B60J7/1621; B60J7/185; B60J7/19; B60J7/198
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
In a removable cover to close over the open bed of a pickup truck of the type having a pair of opposite sidewalls with overhanging ledge portions on the inner faces thereof adjacent their top edges, said cover having a pair of opposite side members engageable with the top edges of the sidewalls of the bed when said cover is operatively disposed thereover, the improvements in said cover comprising: means carried by said cover effective to secure said cover side members to the top edges of the sidewalls of the bed, said securing means including a pair of crankshafts disposed in side-by-side relation to respective ones of said cover side members and journaled for rotation in said cover, each of said crankshafts having at least one pair of crankpins disposed therealong adjacent the forward and rear ends of said cover, each of said crankpins carrying a catch assembly comprising an extensible spring anchored at one end to said crankpin and at its other end to hook means carried by and extending transversely from said crankpin, rotation of said crankshaft in one direction causing said crankpin to move said hook means laterally from a released position toward and under the adjacent ledge portion of the bed when said cover is operatively disposed thereon, further rotation of said crankshaft in said direction first elevating both said crankpin and said hook means relative to the axis of said crankshaft until said hook means engages said ledge portion and thereafter extending said spring until said hook means has reached a locked position in which said crankpin has passed its uppermost position relative to the axis of said crankshaft, said hook mEans in its locked position being retained therein by stop means preventing further rotation of said crankshaft in said direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
In a removable cover to close over the open bed of a pickup truck of the type having a pair of opposite sidewalls with overhanging ledge portions on the inner faces thereof adjacent their top edges, said cover having a pair of opposite side members engageable with the top edges of the sidewalls of the bed when said cover is operatively disposed thereover, the improvements in said cover comprising: means carried by said cover effective to secure said cover side members to the top edges of the sidewalls of the bed, said securing means including a pair of crankshafts disposed in side-by-side relation to respective ones of said cover side members and journaled for rotation in said cover, each of said crankshafts having at least one pair of crankpins disposed therealong adjacent the forward and rear ends of said cover, each of said crankpins carrying a catch assembly comprising an extensible spring anchored at one end to said crankpin and at its other end to hook means carried by and extending transversely from said crankpin, rotation of said crankshaft in one direction causing said crankpin to move said hook means laterally from a released position toward and under the adjacent ledge portion of the bed when said cover is operatively disposed thereon, further rotation of said crankshaft in said direction first elevating both said crankpin and said hook means relative to the axis of said crankshaft until said hook means engages said ledge portion and thereafter extending said spring until said hook means has reached a locked position in which said crankpin has passed its uppermost position relative to the axis of said crankshaft, said hook mEans in its locked position being retained therein by stop means preventing further rotation of said crankshaft in said direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The cover of claim 1 wherein each of said hook means includes a generally upright tubular housing containing said spring, said spring being anchored at its lower end to said housing, said housing having a transverse, axially extending slot in its upper portion receiving said crankpin transversely therethrough, said crankpin being disposed in the lower portion of said slot when said hook means is in its released position and in the upper portion of said slot when said hook means is in its locked position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cover of claim 2 including means resisting rotation of said crankpin relative to said housing, whereby said housing is swingable about the axis of said crankshaft upon rotation thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cover of claim 3 wherein each of said springs is in an extended position when its respective hook means is in its released position, said resisting means comprising frictional engagement between the upper end of said spring and said crankpin owing to said spring extension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
The cover of claim 2 wherein the axial extent of each of said slots is sufficient to accommodate further extension of each of said springs when said catch assemblies along one side of said cover are in their locked positions, said catch assemblies along the other side of said cover are in their released positions and said other side of said cover is elevated relative to the bed, and including means carried by said housings and disposed at the upper end of each of said slots to prevent still further extension of said springs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The cover of claim 5 wherein the transverse extent of said hook means of the forward pair of said catch assemblies is greater than the transverse extent of the rear pair of said catch assemblies, whereby the rear pair of said catches are in their released positions before the forward pair of said catch assemblies upon rotation of said crankshafts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
The cover of claim 6 wherein the bed includes a plurality of downwardly extending recesses in the tops of the sidewalls thereof, and wherein said cover includes a plurality of depending stakes fixed to said side members effective to fittingly engage the recesses and locate said cover horizontally relative to the bed, said stakes being downwardly tapered effective to permit one side or the rear end of said cover, when only the catch assemblies along said side or end, respectively, are in their released positions, to be elevated relative to the bed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |