US3773379A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding cover for pickup truck
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-31
•
Granted: 1973-11-20
•
Expires: 1992-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A folding cover structure for the cargo body of a pickup truck has a wooden base with side members which overlie the cargo body sidewalls and a front cross member behind the cab. Front and rear frames having side bars and cross bars are pivoted on the base side members for fore-and-aft swinging movement between oppositely upwardly inclined erected positions, a loading position with the rear frame leaning against the front frame, and a folded position with both frames lying on the forward part of the base. A fabric cover in the erected position of the frames has a top panel about coplanar with the top of the cab, a depending front panel the lower margin of which is secured to the front cross member, and depending side and rear panels that lash down with ropes. The cover folds with the frames.
Inventors
- 👤 W Loiseau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:16
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P7/00; B60P7/02; B60P7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
381 words
A folding cover structure for a pick-up truck which has a cab and a cargo body behind the cab, the body having side walls and a tailgate, said structure comprising, in combination: a front frame including a pair of parallel front side bars connected by a front cross bar, said front side bars being pivotally supported on the cargo body side walls near the transverse center line of the body so that said front frame is swingable between 1. a forwardly and upwardly inclined erected position in which the front cross bar is above the front end portion of the body, and 2. a folded position lying on the sidewalls; movable front struts for supporting the front frame in erected position; a rear frame including a pair of parallel rear side bars connected by a rear cross bar, said rear side bars being pivotally supported on the cargo body side walls immediately behind the front frame pivots so that said rear frame is swingable between 1. a rearwardly and upwardly inclined erected position in which the rear cross bar is above the rear end portion of the body and substantially coplanar with the front cross bar, 2. a loading position leaning against the erected front frame, and 3. a folded position lying on the folded front frame; movable rear struts for supporting the rear frame in erected position; a cover of limp sheet material which has 1. a top panel overlying the front and rear frame means, 2. depending side panels which are connected to opposite longitudinal margins of the top panel and hang outside the front and rear frame side bars when the frames are in their erected positions, and 3. depending front and rear panels which are connected to the transverse margins of the top panel and hang, respectively, ahead of and behind the front cross bar and the rear cross bar when said cross bars are in their erected positions, said cover having portions folded between parts of the front and rear frames in the loading position and in the folded position of said frames; and means for securing said side panels relative to the truck side walls, said front panel relative to the front portion of the cargo body and said rear panel relative to the tailgate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
381 words
A folding cover structure for a pick-up truck which has a cab and a cargo body behind the cab, the body having side walls and a tailgate, said structure comprising, in combination: a front frame including a pair of parallel front side bars connected by a front cross bar, said front side bars being pivotally supported on the cargo body side walls near the transverse center line of the body so that said front frame is swingable between 1. a forwardly and upwardly inclined erected position in which the front cross bar is above the front end portion of the body, and 2. a folded position lying on the sidewalls; movable front struts for supporting the front frame in erected position; a rear frame including a pair of parallel rear side bars connected by a rear cross bar, said rear side bars being pivotally supported on the cargo body side walls immediately behind the front frame pivots so that said rear frame is swingable between 1. a rearwardly and upwardly inclined erected position in which the rear cross bar is above the rear end portion of the body and substantially coplanar with the front cross bar, 2. a loading position leaning against the erected front frame, and 3. a folded position lying on the folded front frame; movable rear struts for supporting the rear frame in erected position; a cover of limp sheet material which has 1. a top panel overlying the front and rear frame means, 2. depending side panels which are connected to opposite longitudinal margins of the top panel and hang outside the front and rear frame side bars when the frames are in their erected positions, and 3. depending front and rear panels which are connected to the transverse margins of the top panel and hang, respectively, ahead of and behind the front cross bar and the rear cross bar when said cross bars are in their erected positions, said cover having portions folded between parts of the front and rear frames in the loading position and in the folded position of said frames; and means for securing said side panels relative to the truck side walls, said front panel relative to the front portion of the cargo body and said rear panel relative to the tailgate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
a folded position lying on the sidewalls; movable front struts for supporting the front frame in erected position; a rear frame including a pair of parallel rear side bars connected by a rear cross bar, said rear side bars being pivotally supported on the cargo body side walls immediately behind the front frame pivots so that said rear frame is swingable between
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
a folded position lying on the sidewalls; movable front struts for supporting the front frame in erected position; a rear frame including a pair of parallel rear side bars connected by a rear cross bar, said rear side bars being pivotally supported on the cargo body side walls immediately behind the front frame pivots so that said rear frame is swingable between
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
a loading position leaning against the erected front frame, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
a loading position leaning against the erected front frame, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
The structure of claim 1 which includes a rear intermediate frame having side arms pivoted on the rear side bars near the midpoints of the latter, and a rear intermediate cross arm integral with the free ends of the rear side arms, said rear intermediate frame occupying a forwardly inclined erected position with its arms generally perpendicular to the rear side bars and the cross arm generally coplanar with the rear and front cross bars, and tension means connecting said rear side arms to the rear side bars so that the former may occupy a folded position resting on the latter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
depending side panels which are connected to opposite longitudinal margins of the top panel and hang outside the front and rear frame side bars when the frames are in their erected positions, and
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
depending side panels which are connected to opposite longitudinal margins of the top panel and hang outside the front and rear frame side bars when the frames are in their erected positions, and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
depending side panels which are connected to opposite longitudinal margins of the top panel and hang outside the front and rear frame side bars when the frames are in their erected positions, and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
depending side panels which are connected to opposite longitudinal margins of the top panel and hang outside the front and rear frame side bars when the frames are in their erected positions, and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
a loading position leaning against the erected front frame, and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
a loading position leaning against the erected front frame, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
a folded position lying on the side walls; movable front struts for supporting the front frame in erected position; a rear frame including a pair of parallel rear side bars connected by a rear cross bar, said rear side bars being mounted on the base frame side members immediately behind the front frame pivots so that said rear frame is swingable between
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
a folded position lying on the side walls; movable front struts for supporting the front frame in erected position; a rear frame including a pair of parallel rear side bars connected by a rear cross bar, said rear side bars being mounted on the base frame side members immediately behind the front frame pivots so that said rear frame is swingable between
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
a folded position lying on the folded front frame; movable rear strut for supporting the rear frame in erected position; a cover of limp sheet material which has
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
a folded position lying on the folded front frame; movable rear strut for supporting the rear frame in erected position; a cover of limp sheet material which has
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
depending front and rear panels which are connected to the transverse margins of the top panel and hang, respectively, ahead of and behind the front cross bar and the rear cross bar when said cross bars are in their erected positions, said cover having portions folded between parts of the front and rear frames in the loading position and in the folded position of said frames; means securing the lower margin of the front panel to the base frame cross member; and lashing means detachably securing the lower margins of the side panels to the base frame side members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
depending front and rear panels which are connected to the transverse margins of the top panel and hang, respectively, ahead of and behind the front cross bar and the rear cross bar when said cross bars are in their erected positions, said cover having portions folded between parts of the front and rear frames in the loading position and in the folded position of said frames; means securing the lower margin of the front panel to the base frame cross member; and lashing means detachably securing the lower margins of the side panels to the base frame side members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
101 words
The structure of claim 2 which includes a front intermediate frame having side arms pivoted on the front side bars near the midpoints of the latter, and a front intermediate cross arm integral with the free ends of the front side arms, said front intermediate frame occupying a rearwardly inclined erected position with its arms generally perpendicular to the front side bars and the cross arm generally coplanar with the front and rear cross bars, and tension means connecting said front side arms to the front side bars so that the former may occupy a folded position resting on the latter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
99 words
depending front and rear panels which are connected to the transverse margins of the top panel and hang, respectively, ahead of and behind the front cross bar and the rear cross bar when said cross bars are in their erected positions, said cover having portions folded between parts of the front and rear frames in the loading position and in the folded position of said frames; and means for securing said side panels relative to the truck side walls, said front panel relative to the front portion of the cargo body and said rear panel relative to the tailgate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
99 words
depending front and rear panels which are connected to the transverse margins of the top panel and hang, respectively, ahead of and behind the front cross bar and the rear cross bar when said cross bars are in their erected positions, said cover having portions folded between parts of the front and rear frames in the loading position and in the folded position of said frames; and means for securing said side panels relative to the truck side walls, said front panel relative to the front portion of the cargo body and said rear panel relative to the tailgate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
a folded position lying on the folded front frame; movable rear struts for supporting the rear frame in erected position; a cover of limp sheet material which has
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
a folded position lying on the folded front frame; movable rear struts for supporting the rear frame in erected position; a cover of limp sheet material which has
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
101 words
The structure of claim 1 which includes a front intermediate frame having side arms pivoted on the front side bars near the midpoints of the latter, and a front intermediate cross arm integral with the free ends of the front side arms, said front intermediate frame occupying a rearwardly inclined erected position with its arms generally perpendicular to the front side bars and the cross arm generally coplanar with the front and rear cross bars, and tension means connecting said front side arms to the front side bars so that the former may occupy a folded position resting on the latter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 1 in which the rear struts and the front struts are pivoted on the side bars and seat in sockets.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1 in which the cross bars in their erected positions are substantially coplanar with the top of the cab.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure of claim 1 which includes a base frame having side members that overlie the cargo body walls and a cross member connecting the front ends of the side members, and means securing said base frame to the cargo body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
The structure of claim 7 in which the means for securing the front panel includes a forwardly open channel member supporting the cross member, the lower marginal portion of the front panel is received in said channel, and a rope extends from end to end of the channel to retain said lower marginal portion in the channel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 8 in which the cover fastening means includes ropes laced through grommets on the cover side panels and around hooks beneath the base frame side members.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 7 in which the cover fastening means includes ropes laced through grommets on the cover side panels and around hooks beneath the base frame side members.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 1 in which the cover fastening means includes an electric cord laced through grommets in the cover back panel and around hooks on the tailgate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
133 words
A folding cover structure for a pick-up truck which has a cab and a cargo body behind the cab, the body having side walls and a tailgate, said structure comprising, in combination: a base frame having side members that overlie the cargo body side walls and a cross member that connects the front ends of the side members immediately behind the cab; adjustable securing means connected to the front of the base frame and adapted to be connected to inner portions of the cargo body side walls; a front frame including a pair of parallel front side bars connected by a front cross bar, said front side bars being pivotally mounted on the base frame side members near the transverse center line of the body so that said front frame is swingable between
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
133 words
A folding cover structure for a pick-up truck which has a cab and a cargo body behind the cab, the body having side walls and a tailgate, said structure comprising, in combination: a base frame having side members that overlie the cargo body side walls and a cross member that connects the front ends of the side members immediately behind the cab; adjustable securing means connected to the front of the base frame and adapted to be connected to inner portions of the cargo body side walls; a front frame including a pair of parallel front side bars connected by a front cross bar, said front side bars being pivotally mounted on the base frame side members near the transverse center line of the body so that said front frame is swingable between
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 12 in which the means securing the lower margin of the front panel includes a rope secured along said margin, and a forwardly open channel member on the base frame cross member in which said rope is entrapped.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 13 that includes grommets in the lower portions of the side panels, hooks on the base side members, and a rope laced through the grommets and engaging the hooks on each side.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 14 that includes grommets in the lower portion of the back panel, and an elastic cord adapted to be laced through said grommets and under hooks on the truck tailgate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3201171A
Cited
US3688787A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |