US 12,214,713 B2
Tonneau cover fixing and assembly system
Juliano Scheer Mantovani, Caxias do Sul (BR)
Assigned to KEKO ACESSÓRIOS S/A, Caxias do Sul (BR)
Appl. No. 17/770,608
Filed by KEKO ACESSÓRIOS S/A, Caxias do Sul (BR)
PCT Filed Jun. 17, 2021, PCT No. PCT/BR2021/050263
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 20, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/261732, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 22, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0140298 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. B60P 7/04 (2006.01); B60J 7/19 (2006.01)
CPC B60P 7/04 (2013.01) [B60J 7/198 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tonneau cover fixing and assembly system, comprising:
a front profile (10) equipped with a first bas-relief (11) having a groove (111) that allows the sliding fit of a plastic front profile (41) fixed to a tarp (40), a lower projection (12) provided with a second groove (121) for fastening by sliding fit—of a front seal rubber (50), a second bas-relief (13) for fit fastening a seal rubber (131) sealing between the tonneau and a vehicle bed, a third bas-relief (14) equipped with flaps (141) allowing fixing structures (60) equipped with elastic cord (63) for fixing the tarp (40) when rolled up and at the ends of the front profile (10), along an upper portion of profile (10), holes (15) are arranged that allow a fitting of structural steel sections (30) through a click, said structure (60) which is provided with a first projection (61) that allows the sliding fit along the third bas-relief (14) of the front profile (10), a pair of flaps (62) for fixing the elastic cord-(63) in; a central portion of the front profile
side profiles (20) are provided with a fourth bas-relief (21) that has a third groove (211) for fixing side plastic profile (42) of the tarp (40), said side plastic profile (42) having a second projection (421) that allows the fitting together with the third groove (211) by pressure, in a lower portion of the side profiles (20) is arranged a fifth bas-relief (22) for fastening by fitting the sealing rubber (221), in a rear portion of the side profiles (20) a fourth groove (23) is arranged allowing the fixing of locking structures (70), from the tonneau cover to the vehicle bed and at ends of the side profiles (20), next to the upper portion, holes (24) are arranged for fitting with the structural steel sections (30) through click, the locking structure (70) which is provided with a first piece (71) having a second flap (711) that fits with the fourth groove (23) and a third projection (712) that fits with the second piece (72), the third projection (712) which has a first housing (713) for positioning a first nut when the locking structure (70) is screwed from below, and the second piece (72) has a spacing (721) for fitting the third projection (712) and a third flap (722) that allows locking with the vehicle bed, the third flap (722) having in a lower portion a second housing (723) for positioning a second nut when the locking structure (70) is screwed from above;
the structural steel sections (30), connecting the front profile (10) and the side profiles (20), have a fourth projection (31) that works as a snap-in guide and locking rod (311) equipped with a tooth that snaps together the hole (24) of the side profiles (20) through a click, a fifth projection (32) having a locking rod (321) provided with guides and a tooth that fits with a respective hole from the the hole (15) of the front profile (10) through one-click; and
the tarp (40) is provided on its front portion with the plastic profile (41) and on its side portions with the side plastic profile (42), and the fixing of the plastic profile (41) and the second plastic profile (42) with the tarp (40) occurs by sewing a hem (43), the tarp (40) receives the provision of crossbars (80) supporting the tarp, the crossbars (80) which are provided with tips (81) sewn between a side face of the tarp (40) and the side plastic profile (42); on a rear portion of the tonneau cover a rear profile (90) is arranged provided with second structural steel sections (300) of specific format that allows the connection with the tips (201) of the side profiles (20), said second structural steel sections (300), which are provided with a locking structure (301), said second structural steel sections (300) that are connected to the rear profile (90) and the tips (201) connected to the side profiles (20), a pair of actuators (91) are positioned in pairs in a central portion of the rear profile (90), so that a total release of the system may occur by activating only one pair of the pair of actuators (91) or by activating any pair of actuators interconnected through a set of four rods (92A), (92B), (92C) and (92D) being two rods connected to the pins (93) and the other two rods connected between the pair of actuators (91), which allows a transmission of movement.