Hinged tonneau cover for transporting a significant top load

Abstract

A cover for the rear storage compartment of a pickup truck or similar vehicle having an open top storage compartment, the cover comprised of at least two panels made of a rigid material casing attached to structural members specifically designed to support and transport a significant load placed on top of the cover. At least one panel is substantially and removably secured to the top of the sidewalls of the rear storage compartment by attachment means that does not require drilling into any portion of the vehicle. In addition, all the non-substantially secured panels are lockable, and are hingedly and removably attached to the at least one substantially secured panel, providing secure and easy access to the rear storage compartment. The hinge attachment further allows for each non-substantially secured panel to be removed individually, providing alternative panel configurations for carrying large items. Finally, all panels work in conjunction with locking rods and water sealant devices to provide a substantially water resistant and secure cover.

1 . A cover for the rear storage compartment of a vehicle, the storage compartment having a vertical front wall adjacent the cab of the vehicle, an opposite rear wall, and two bedrails forming the sidewalls of the compartment, the cover comprised of at least three substantially rectangular panels, each panel comprised of a thin rigid casing attached to a plurality of structural members, the at least three panels further comprised of a center panel securely and non-hingedly mounted directly to the bedrails of the storage compartment, a front panel having an end hingedly mounted to the center panel and having an opposite unencumbered end adjacent the vertical front wall, and a rear panel having an end hingedly mounted to the center panel and having an opposite unencumbered end adjacent the rear tailgate, wherein the cover is of sufficient strength to support a top load of at least 400 pounds.  
   
   
       2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the thin rigid casing is selected from the group consisting of metals, polymers, fiberglass, and resin fiber combinations.  
   
   
       3 . The cover of  claim 2 , wherein the thin rigid casing is aluminum.  
   
   
       4 . The cover of  claim 3 , wherein the structural members are at least partially enclosed by the thin rigid casing.  
   
   
       5 . The cover of  claim 3 , wherein the structural members are substantially horizontally disposed and in substantially perpendicular orientation with the bedrails of the storage compartment.  
   
   
       6 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein the center panel is substantially secured directly to the bedrails of the rear storage compartment by removable attachment means.  
   
   
       7 . The cover of  claim 6 , wherein the removable attachment means are selected from the group consisting of C-clamps, vices, truck clamps, adhesives, tie-downs, bolts, and screws.  
   
   
       8 . The cover of  claim 7 , wherein the front panel and rear panel are hingedly attached to the center panel by removable hinge means.  
   
   
       9 . The cover of  claim 8 , wherein the removable hinge means is comprised of at least one slip joint hinge.  
   
   
       10 . The cover of  claim 9 , further comprising means to render the cover substantially water resistant when closed.  
   
   
       11 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein the cover further comprises gutter means for channeling water run off as one other panel is opened.  
   
   
       12 . The cover of  claim 9 , further comprising locking means for locking at least one other panel.  
   
   
       13 . The cover of  claim 12 , wherein the locking means are selected from the group consisting of T-handle locks, keyed locks, slam latches, push button locks, and paddle locks.  
   
   
       14 . The cover of  claim 12 , further comprising support means attached to the center panel and attached to at least one other panel for maintaining the at least one other panel in an open position.  
   
   
       15 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein the support means are selected from the group consisting of gas springs, prop rods, pneumatic canisters, spring hinges, and springs.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The cover of  claim 12 , wherein the locking means comprise locking rods mounted to a panel using adjustable rod brackets to permit the locking rods to engage under the bedrails to secure the cover to the storage compartment.  
   
   
       22 . The cover of  claim 21 , wherein the locking means do not require any modification of the bedrails.  
   
   
       23 . The cover of  claim 13 , wherein the locking means activate locking rods that secure the cover to the storage compartment by engaging under the existing bedrails.  
   
   
       24 . The cover of  claim 24 , wherein the locking means do not require any modification of the bedrails.  
   
   
       25 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein the support means are arranged so as to limit the travel of the front and rear panel to prevent unintended separation of the panels by preventing disengagement of the removable hinge means.