US 12,434,544 B2
Retractable truck bed cover having slat array with flexible joiner members and shielded seams
Richard Gregory Bernardo, Pompano Beach, FL (US); and Brandon Gregory Bernardo, Pompano Beach, FL (US)
Assigned to ROLL-N-LOCK CORPORATION, Pompano Beach, FL (US)
Filed by ROLL-N-LOCK CORPORATION, Pompano Beach, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/133,429.
Application 18/133,429 is a continuation of application No. 17/065,415, filed on Oct. 7, 2020, granted, now 11,634,014.
Application 17/065,415 is a continuation of application No. 16/144,906, filed on Sep. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,800,231, issued on Oct. 13, 2020.
Application 16/144,906 is a continuation of application No. 15/213,180, filed on Jul. 18, 2016, granted, now 10,137,766, issued on Nov. 27, 2018.
Application 15/213,180 is a continuation of application No. 14/450,616, filed on Aug. 4, 2014, granted, now 9,399,391, issued on Jul. 26, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0241951 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. B60J 7/04 (2006.01); B60J 7/08 (2006.01); B60J 7/19 (2006.01); B60J 10/277 (2016.01)
CPC B60J 7/041 (2013.01) [B60J 7/085 (2013.01); B60J 7/196 (2013.01); B60J 10/277 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retractable truck bed cover configured for use with a truck bed of a vehicle, the retractable truck bed cover comprising:
a pair of guide rails configured to secure to side walls of the truck bed of the vehicle;
a plurality of slats configured to extend between and be positioned at least partially within the pair of guide rails; and
a plurality of flexible joiner members, each of the plurality of flexible joiner members configured to connect adjacent ones of the plurality of slats, each of the plurality of flexible joiner members comprising a length and a cross-section extending along the length, the cross-section comprising a first connector section, a second connector section, and a hinge section positioned between and connecting the first and second connector sections;
wherein the plurality of slats comprises at least a first slat and a second slat, each of the first and second slats comprising a length and a cross-section extending along the length, the cross-section comprising:
a slat surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, the leading edge defining a first feature extending along at least a portion of a length thereof, and the trailing edge defining a second feature extending along at least a portion of a length thereof and configured to engage the first feature on the leading edge of an adjacent slat of the plurality of slats to form a structural barrier overlying the hinge section of a corresponding flexible joiner member;
a first receptor channel positioned proximate the leading edge; and
a second receptor channel positioned proximate the trailing edge;
wherein the first connector section is positioned within the second receptor channel of the first slat and the second connector section is positioned within the first receptor channel of the second slat.