US 12,109,874 B2
Tonneau cover having secured flexible hinge
Charles M. Schmeichel, Jamestown, ND (US); Brendan T. Bohn, Jamestown, ND (US); Mark E. Beam, Jamestown, ND (US); and John W. Simon, Burnsville, MN (US)
Assigned to Agri-Cover, Inc., Jamestown, ND (US)
Filed by Agri-Cover, Inc., Jamestown, ND (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/068,949.
Application 18/068,949 is a continuation of application No. 17/089,611, filed on Nov. 4, 2020, granted, now 11,642,948.
Application 17/089,611 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/865,132, filed on May 1, 2020, granted, now 11,292,324, issued on Apr. 5, 2022.
Application 16/865,132 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/252,345, filed on Jan. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,235,652, issued on Feb. 1, 2022.
Application 16/252,345 is a continuation of application No. 15/794,549, filed on Oct. 26, 2017, granted, now 10,189,340, issued on Jan. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/845,086, filed on May 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/843,357, filed on May 3, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/414,591, filed on Oct. 28, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0121434 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60J 7/19 (2006.01); B60J 7/14 (2006.01); B60J 7/04 (2006.01); B60J 7/16 (2006.01)
CPC B60J 7/198 (2013.01) [B60J 7/141 (2013.01); B60J 7/041 (2013.01); B60J 7/1621 (2013.01)] 41 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end and having an open position and a closed position; the pickup truck further including a cab positioned forward of the cargo box; the tonneau cover apparatus comprising:
a support frame assembly for attachment to the cargo box; and
a cover assembly for attachment to the support frame assembly when the support frame assembly is attached to the cargo box; the cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels that are foldably interconnected with one another in series; wherein each of the respective rigid panels has an upper surface and a lower surface; and wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first, second and third rigid panels foldably secured to one another in series such that the cover assembly can be folded up when the cover assembly is secured to the support frame such that respective upper surfaces of at least two of the plurality of rigid panels reside in an upright folded orientation in which the upper surfaces of the first and second rigid panels reside in a generally parallel orientation to one another; and
wherein the tonneau cover apparatus further includes means for securing the respective upper surfaces of the first and second rigid panels in the upright folded orientation.