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Truck bed cover

a truck bed and cover technology, applied in the field of truck bed covers, can solve the problems of fewer materials used and waste that can be recycled

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-09-21
UNDERCOVER INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]It is in the view of the above problems that the present invention was developed. The invention is a truck bed cover made from thermoplastic material. The top of the truck bed cover has a relatively smooth appearance. The underside of the bed cover comprises a support structure utilizing “X”-type supports made from a plastic material and unitarily formed, without the use of a separate fastener. In a preferred embodiment, four “X”-type supports are utilized. A typical bed cover typically weighs less than 75 pounds excluding hardware for greater case of handling, without loss of structural support strength from loads placed on the top of the bed cover over fiberglass covers that typically weigh between 100 and 200 pounds.
[0018]The manufacturing process of the bed cover of the present invention is simplified such that the total time to manufacture the cover is on the order of magnitude of twenty minutes. The manufacturing process utilizes fewer materials, and creates waste that can be recycled. Accordingly, the manufacturing process is less costly and more environmentally benign over the manufacturing process for fiberglass bed covers.

Problems solved by technology

The manufacturing process utilizes fewer materials, and creates waste that can be recycled.

Method used

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Embodiment Construction

[0031]Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like elements, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show various aspects of a truck bed cover, shown generally at 10. Truck bed cover 10 has a top side shown generally at 12, a front side shown generally at 14, a right side shown generally at 16, a rear side (not fully) shown at 18, a left side shown generally at 20, and a bottom side shown generally at 22. As seen in the profile of top side in FIG. 2, top side 12 is rounded from front side 14 to rear side 18. As is also evident from the ability to view top side 12 above right side 16, top side 12 is rounded from right side 16 to left side 20. This is further demonstrated by the centerline of top side 12 in FIG. 1. This rounding prevents accumulation of moisture on cover 10 in the form of rain, snow, or ice.

[0032]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3. As is more clearly seen in FIG. 4, truck bed cover 10 comprises top cover shown generally at...

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PUM

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Abstract

The invention is a truck bed cover made from thermoplastic material. The top of the truck bed cover has a relatively smooth appearance. The underside of the bed cover comprises a support structure utilizing at least one “X”-type support. In the preferred embodiment, four “X”-type supports are utilized. A typical bed cover typically weighs less than 75 pounds for greater ease of handling, without loss of structural support strength over fiberglass covers from loads placed on the top of the bed cover.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60 / 063,804, filed Oct. 31, 1997.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates to covers for truck beds and, more particularly, to hard covers for track beds.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]Pickup trucks such as the Ford F-150 truck, and the like have a cabin portion for seating passengers and a bed portion for hauling cargo. The bed portion of a pickup truck is open to the outside environment. Accordingly, any cargo in the bed portion of such a truck is subject to the elements, and is exposed to rain, snow, wind, and sunlight. Because certain cargos should not be subjected to the elements, and because some truck owners prefer to avoid having the bed portion exposed to the elements, the bed portions are covered by bed covers.[0006]Bed covers may typically fall within one of two classes: soft bed covers and hard bed covers. Soft bed covers are made from a fabric material and are...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B60P7/02B60J7/08B60J7/10
CPCB60J7/08B60J7/1621B62D25/10
Inventor MYERS, EUGENE A.
Owner UNDERCOVER INC