Hinge assembly for tonneau cover
US6309005A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60J7/1621
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hard tonneau cover is pivotally attached to each side wall of a truck cargo box having a tail gate by a hinge assembly. Each hinge assembly includes a four bar linkage and a drive mechanism. The four bar linkage consists of a tonneau bracket that is secured to the tonneau cover, a mounting bracket, a hinge link that is pivotally attached to the tonneau bracket at one end by a first pivot and to the mounting bracket at an opposite end by a second pivot, and a control link that is pivotally attached to the tonneau bracket at one end by a third pivot and to the mounting bracket at an opposite end by a fourth pivot. The drive mechanism has a pivot arm that is pivotally attached to the mounting bracket by a fifth pivot, and a drive arm that is pivotally attached to the pivot arm by a sixth pivot and pivotally attached to the tonneau bracket by a seventh pivot so that the tonneau cover and bracket are moved between a closed position and an open position by rotation of the pivot arm. A gas spring that is attached to the mounting bracket and to the pivot arm biases the tonneau cover and tonneau bracket to the closed position. The tonneau cover is opened and closed by an electric motor an…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.