Cover top for pickup truck beds

Claim 2

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said covering having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; said U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; sid U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising an intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover, said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; said Ushaped structure of said stand also having a pair of legs; said legs having first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddle an inner load-carrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing meAns carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair or elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends, said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; said cover being of material which is flexible relative to a pickup truck bed; transverse support structure secured to and engaging an inner lower side of said cover at a location between said forward and rearward ends of said cover; said support structure having means at its opposite ends extending below said cover and engagable with opposite inner sides of a truck bed to prevent substantial lateral deflection of said cover relative to said truck bed when said cover is in closed position thereon.

Claim 3

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; said U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; said U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising an intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover; said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; said U-shaped structure of said stand also having a pair of legs; said legs haivng first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddle an inner loadcarrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing means carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair of elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends; said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; elongated coil compression springs having longitudinal axes substantially parallel with said tracks; said springs carried by said tracks and compressible in a direction parallel with said tracks; and means at said second end of said legs disposed to engage said springs and to cause progressive deflection thereof during a closing movement of said cover when said second ends of said legs move toward a forward end of said cover and said truck bed whereby an increasing force of said springs is obtained in proportion to a degree to which said cover is moved toward closed position thereby substantially balancing vertical gravity loading of said cover; said tracks are each provided with channel shaped in cross section structure and are so disposed that said channel shaped structure is open in a direction facing inwardly relative to respective opposite sides of said cover; a respective one of said track following bearing means disposed and movable in each channel shaped structure; said channel shaped structure being provided with lower and upper flanges, the upper one of said flanges having an opening adapted to permit upward vertical movement of a respective one of said track following bearing means therethrough; said springs being compression springs and when fully extended being forward relative to respective openings in said flanges so as to not interfere with the removal of said track following bearing means upwardly therethrough.

Claim 4

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; said U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; said U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising an intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover; said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; said U-shaped structure of said stand also having a pair of legs; said legs haivng first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddle an inner loadcarrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing means carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair of elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends; said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; elongated coil compression springs having longitudinal axes substantially parallel with said tracks; said springs carried by said tracks and compressible in a direction parallel with said tracks; and means at said second end of said legs disposed to engage said springs and to cause progressive deflection thereof during a closing movement of said cover when said second ends of said legs move toward a forward end of said cover and said truck bed whereby an increasing force of said springs is obtained in proportion to a degree to which said cover is moved toward closed position thereby substantially balancing vertical gravity loading of said cover; said tracks are each provided with channel shaped in cross section structure and are so disposed that said channel shaped structure is open in a direction facing inwardly relative to respective opposite sides of said cover; a respective one of said track following bearing means disposed and movable in each channel shaped structure; said channel shaped structure being provided with lower and upper flanges, the upper one of said flanges having an opening adapted to permit upward vertical movement of a respective one of said track following bearing means therethrough; said springs being compression springs and when fully extended being forward relative to respective openings in said flanges so as to not interfere with the removal of said track following bearing means upwardly therethrough.

Claim 5

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; Said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; sand U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; said U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising an intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover; said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; sand U-shaped structure of said stand also having a pair of legs; said legs having first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddly an inner loadcarrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing means carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair of elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends, said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; stand latch means pivoted on a horizontal axis at a rearward portion of one of said tracks; said latch means having a downwardly directed hook; a respective leg of said stand having an axially horizontal structure of said track following bearing means adapted to be engaged by said hook when said track following bearing means is moved to a rearward position of said track and when said cover is supported in eLevated open position by said stand means.

Claim 6

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; Said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; sand U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; said U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising an intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover; said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; sand U-shaped structure of said stand also having a pair of legs; said legs having first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddly an inner loadcarrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing means carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair of elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends, said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; stand latch means pivoted on a horizontal axis at a rearward portion of one of said tracks; said latch means having a downwardly directed hook; a respective leg of said stand having an axially horizontal structure of said track following bearing means adapted to be engaged by said hook when said track following bearing means is moved to a rearward position of said track and when said cover is supported in eLevated open position by said stand means.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said hook is disposed to operate pivotally about said horizontal axis and is located between said respective stand leg and a respective one of said tracks.

Claim 8

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; said U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; said U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover; said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; said U-shaped structure of said stand also having a pair or legs, said legs having first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddle an inner loadcarrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing means carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair of elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends; said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; said first mentioned bearing means which is carried by said cover each having a substantially U-shaped bearing member provided with bolt receiving flanges; said bearing means being opened toward an inner side of said cover and bolted to said inner side of said cover and holding said torque bar portion of said stand adjacent said cover.

Claim 9

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; said U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; said U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover; said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; said U-shaped structure of said stand also having a pair or legs, said legs having first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddle an inner loadcarrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing means carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair of elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends; said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; said first mentioned bearing means which is carried by said cover each having a substantially U-shaped bearing member provided with bolt receiving flanges; said bearing means being opened toward an inner side of said cover and bolted to said inner side of said cover and holding said torque bar portion of said stand adjacent said cover.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein clamp plates are contiguous to the inner and outer sides of said cover; and bolts extending through said clamp plates and said flanges of said U-shaped bearing members and clamping said clamp plates and said U-shaped bearing members securely in connection with said cover.

Claim 11

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailagte; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position Relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; said U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; said U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising an intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover; said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; said U-shaped structure of said stand also having a pair of legs; said legs having first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddle an inner loadcarrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing means carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair of elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends; said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; said pickup truck bed having a forward end provided with a forward extremity adjacent to said cab; said forward end having an upper generally horizontal surface and an inner end surface disclosed in a generally upward and downward direction; said hinge means having a first hinge plate with a first elongated hinge bearing means disposed on said horizontal axis; said hinge plate adapted to be fixed near said forward end of said pickup truck bed adjacent said upper surface thereof; said first elongated hinge bearing means being located near said forward extremity of said forward end of said truck bed; said first hinge plate having a generally horizontal plate portion extending in a rearward direction from said first elongated hinge bearing means towards said inner end surface of said forward end of said pickup truck bed; said horizontal plate portion having a generally channel shaped portion fixed thereto and extending downwardly a considerable distance below said horizontal plate portion; said generally channel shaped portion having a side wall bearing surface portion facing forward toward said elongated hinge bearing means; a second hinge plate secured to said forward end of said cover and having a second elongated hinge bearing means abuttingly and pivotally engaging said forst elongated hinge bearing means; said first elongated hinge bearing means having a cross sectional shape defining a generally hook shaped structure which is open towards said side wall bearing surface; said second elongated hinge bearing means engaged in said hook shaped structure; said second hinge plate having a downwardly extending plate portion provided with a surface portion which is arcuately movable about said horizontal axis; said surface portion disposed to be pivoted in close proximity to said side wall bearing surface of said first hinge plate.

Claim 12

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the open upper side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having a forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailagte; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position Relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said stand means having structure of a configuration which is generally U-shaped; said U-shaped structure being disposed in an inverted position when said rearward portion of said cover is supported in raised position by said stand means; said U-shaped structure of said stand means comprising an intermediate horizontally disposed torque transmitting bar portion; bearing means carried by said cover; said bar portion being pivotally carried by said bearing means; said bearing means having a generally horizontal axis; said U-shaped structure of said stand also having a pair of legs; said legs having first ends fixed to said bar portion; said legs extending downwardly from said bar portion when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said legs being disposed adjacent respective opposite sides of said cover and adapted to straddle an inner loadcarrying area of said truck bed; said legs having second ends; track following bearing means carried at said second ends of said legs; and a pair of elongated tracks having forward and rearward ends; said tracks adapted to be secured to opposite inner sides of a pickup truck bed in adjacent relation to said opposite sides of said cover; said tracks being elongated in a generally forward and rearward direction relative to said pickup truck bed; said track following bearing means at said second ends of said legs being adapted to engage and follow respective ones of said tracks, whereby said legs are disposed generally in an up and down disposition when said cover is in raised position and said legs are disposed in a more nearly horizontal position when said cover is lowered to enclose the upper open side of said pickup truck bed; said pickup truck bed having a forward end provided with a forward extremity adjacent to said cab; said forward end having an upper generally horizontal surface and an inner end surface disclosed in a generally upward and downward direction; said hinge means having a first hinge plate with a first elongated hinge bearing means disposed on said horizontal axis; said hinge plate adapted to be fixed near said forward end of said pickup truck bed adjacent said upper surface thereof; said first elongated hinge bearing means being located near said forward extremity of said forward end of said truck bed; said first hinge plate having a generally horizontal plate portion extending in a rearward direction from said first elongated hinge bearing means towards said inner end surface of said forward end of said pickup truck bed; said horizontal plate portion having a generally channel shaped portion fixed thereto and extending downwardly a considerable distance below said horizontal plate portion; said generally channel shaped portion having a side wall bearing surface portion facing forward toward said elongated hinge bearing means; a second hinge plate secured to said forward end of said cover and having a second elongated hinge bearing means abuttingly and pivotally engaging said forst elongated hinge bearing means; said first elongated hinge bearing means having a cross sectional shape defining a generally hook shaped structure which is open towards said side wall bearing surface; said second elongated hinge bearing means engaged in said hook shaped structure; said second hinge plate having a downwardly extending plate portion provided with a surface portion which is arcuately movable about said horizontal axis; said surface portion disposed to be pivoted in close proximity to said side wall bearing surface of said first hinge plate.

Claim 13

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said side wall bearing surface portion of said first hinge plate is provided with an upper terminal edge portion; said downwardly extending plate portion having a normally lower edge; said normally lower edge of said downwardly extending plate portion of said first hinge plate being below said terminal upper edge poRtion of said side wall bearing surface of said first hinge plate when said stand means supports said cover in a normal raised position.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said tracks are each provided with a channel shaped and cross section structure and are so disposed that said channel shaped structure is open in a direction facing inwardly relative to respective opposite sides of said cover; a respective one of said tracks following bearing means disposed and movable in each channel shaped structure; said channel shaped structure each being provided with lower and upper flanges, the upper one of said flanges having an opening adapted to permit upward vertical movement of a respective one of said tracks following bearing means therethrough in order to permit further upward movement of said cover above and beyond the normally raised position thereof; said lower edges of said downwardly extending plate portion being above said terminal edge when said track following bearing means are removed through said openings in said flanges and when said cover is pivoted upwardly about said horizontal axis a substantial amount to a position wherein the rear end of said cover is substantially above said raised position whereby said second elongated hinge bearing means may be readily moved in a rearward direction out of engagement with said hook shaped structure.

Claim 15

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the upper open side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said pickup truck bed having a forward end provided with a forward extremity adjacent to said cab; said forward end having an upper generally horizontal surface and an inner end surface disposed in a generally upward and downward direction; said hinge means having a first hinge plate provided with a first elongated hinge bearing means disposed on said horizontal axis; said hinge plate adapted to be fixed to said forward end of said pickup truck bed adjacent said upper and inner end surfaces thereof; said first elongated hinge bearing means being located near said forward extremity of said forward end of said truck bed; said first hinge plate having a generally horizontal plate portion extending in a rearward direction from said first elongated hinge bearing means towards said inner end surface of said forward end of said pickup truck bed; said horizontal plate portion having a generally channel shaped portion fixed thereto and extending downwardly a considerable distance from said horizontal plate portion; said generally channel shaped portion having a side wall bearing surface portion facing forwardly toward said first elongated hinge bearing means; a second hinge plate secured to said forward end of said cover and having second elongated hinge bearing means abuttingly and pivotally engaging said first elongated hinge bearing means; said first elongated hinge bearing means having a cross sectional shape defining a generally hook shaped structure which is open towards the side wall bearing surface; said second elongated hinge bearing means engageable in said hook shaped structure; said second hinge plate having a downwardly extending plate portion provided with a surface portion which is arcuately movable about said hinge axis; said surface portion disposed to be in close proximity to said side wall bearing surface of said first hinge plate; said side wall bearinG surface portion of said hinge plate having an upper terminal edge portion; said downwardly extending plate portion having a normally edge; said normally lower edge of said downwardly extending plate portion of said first hinge plate when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said lower edge of said downwardly extending plate being above said terminal edge when said cover is pivoted upwardly about said horizontal axis a substantial amount to a position wherein the rear end of said cover is substantially above said raised position whereby said second elongated hinge bearing means may be readily moved in a rearward direction out of engagement with said hook shaped structure.

Claim 16

In a truck bed cover, the combination of: a cover adapted to enclose the upper open side of a generally box-shaped pickup truck bed; said cover having forward end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a pickup truck cab; said cover having a rearward end adapted to be disposed adjacent a pickup truck tailgate; said cover having opposite sides extending between said forward and rearward ends; hinge means at said forward end of said cover and adapted pivotally to couple said forward end of said cover to said pickup truck bed; said hinge means having a horizontal axis whereby said rearward end of said cover may be elevated to a raised position relative to said tailgate; stand means adapted to support said cover in said raised position relative to said truck bed; said pickup truck bed having a forward end provided with a forward extremity adjacent to said cab; said forward end having an upper generally horizontal surface and an inner end surface disposed in a generally upward and downward direction; said hinge means having a first hinge plate provided with a first elongated hinge bearing means disposed on said horizontal axis; said hinge plate adapted to be fixed to said forward end of said pickup truck bed adjacent said upper and inner end surfaces thereof; said first elongated hinge bearing means being located near said forward extremity of said forward end of said truck bed; said first hinge plate having a generally horizontal plate portion extending in a rearward direction from said first elongated hinge bearing means towards said inner end surface of said forward end of said pickup truck bed; said horizontal plate portion having a generally channel shaped portion fixed thereto and extending downwardly a considerable distance from said horizontal plate portion; said generally channel shaped portion having a side wall bearing surface portion facing forwardly toward said first elongated hinge bearing means; a second hinge plate secured to said forward end of said cover and having second elongated hinge bearing means abuttingly and pivotally engaging said first elongated hinge bearing means; said first elongated hinge bearing means having a cross sectional shape defining a generally hook shaped structure which is open towards the side wall bearing surface; said second elongated hinge bearing means engageable in said hook shaped structure; said second hinge plate having a downwardly extending plate portion provided with a surface portion which is arcuately movable about said hinge axis; said surface portion disposed to be in close proximity to said side wall bearing surface of said first hinge plate; said side wall bearinG surface portion of said hinge plate having an upper terminal edge portion; said downwardly extending plate portion having a normally edge; said normally lower edge of said downwardly extending plate portion of said first hinge plate when said stand means supports said cover in raised position; said lower edge of said downwardly extending plate being above said terminal edge when said cover is pivoted upwardly about said horizontal axis a substantial amount to a position wherein the rear end of said cover is substantially above said raised position whereby said second elongated hinge bearing means may be readily moved in a rearward direction out of engagement with said hook shaped structure.