Pickup truck bed cover

Abstract

The application discloses a pickup truck bed cover, which comprises a cover body and a supporting assembly, wherein the cover body is an integral structure and is made of a carbon fiber material structure; and the supporting assembly is arranged inside the cover body and used for supporting the cover body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive parts technology, and more particularly to a pickup truck bed cover. Background Technology

[0002] A pickup truck is a vehicle type that uses a car-like front end and cab, while also having an open cargo bed. It offers the comfort of a car while maintaining powerful performance, and its cargo-carrying capacity and off-road capability are even greater than that of a car, making it an important part of the automotive market. The most common pickup truck type is the double-cab pickup. Pickups can be used as special-purpose vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles, official vehicles, commercial vehicles, or family vehicles for cargo transport, tourism, and rental purposes.

[0003] Pickup trucks, vehicles with a rear cargo bed, are typically used to load goods, and the cargo bed is usually fitted with a cover to protect the goods from external environmental factors. However, current pickup truck cargo covers are quite heavy, making them inconvenient to handle and install; they are also prone to deformation, affecting their lifespan. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a pickup truck bed cover that is lightweight and not easily deformed.

[0005] This application discloses a pickup truck bed cover, which includes a cover body and a support assembly. The cover body is an integral structure and is made of carbon fiber material. The support assembly is disposed inside the cover body and is used to support the cover body.

[0006] Optionally, the support component is a PMI foam material structure.

[0007] Optionally, the pickup truck bed cover also includes a reinforcing component disposed at the bottom of the cover body to increase the structural strength of the cover body; the reinforcing component is an integral structure with the cover body and is made of carbon fiber material.

[0008] Optionally, the reinforcing component includes annular reinforcing ribs and at least two strip reinforcing ribs. The annular reinforcing ribs are disposed along the bottom edge of the cover body, and the strip reinforcing ribs are disposed within the surrounding area of ​​the annular reinforcing ribs. The two ends of the strip reinforcing ribs are respectively connected to the opposite sides of the annular reinforcing ribs, and the strip reinforcing ribs are arranged side by side with each other.

[0009] Optionally, the cover includes a first top surface, a second top surface, and a third top surface, which are sequentially distributed along the width direction of the cover; on the front side of the cover, the second top surface is higher than the first and third top surface; on the back side of the cover, the first and third top surface both protrude beyond the second top surface; the annular reinforcing rib is provided along the bottom edge of the cover and surrounds the first, second, and third top surface; the reinforcing component includes two strip reinforcing ribs, which are provided at the bottom of the second top surface.

[0010] Optionally, the reinforcing component further includes at least two transverse reinforcing ribs arranged side by side; the transverse reinforcing ribs are disposed between the two strip reinforcing ribs, and the two ends of the transverse reinforcing ribs are respectively connected to the two strip reinforcing ribs.

[0011] Optionally, the reinforcing component further includes three transverse reinforcing ribs, which are distributed at equal intervals and are perpendicular to the strip reinforcing ribs.

[0012] Optionally, the reinforcing component further includes a plurality of V-shaped reinforcing ribs, with at least two V-shaped reinforcing ribs provided between adjacent sidewalls of the strip reinforcing ribs and the annular reinforcing ribs. The bottom of the V-shape of the V-shaped reinforcing rib is connected to the corresponding strip reinforcing rib, and the top of the V-shape of the V-shaped reinforcing rib is connected to the sidewall of the corresponding annular reinforcing rib.

[0013] Optionally, the interior of the reinforcing component is hollow, and the support component fills the interior of the reinforcing component.

[0014] Optionally, the pickup truck bed cover further includes a corner bracket assembly disposed at the bottom of the cover body for connecting the cover body to the vehicle body; the cover body has a front end, a rear end, and two sides, the rear end of the cover body is rotatably connected to the vehicle body, and the front end of the cover body is the opening and closing end of the pickup truck bed cover; the corner bracket assembly includes two air springs and two connecting pieces, with each side of the cover body respectively provided with one air spring and one connecting piece; the connecting piece is provided with a first fixing position and a second fixing position in parallel, the first fixing position being disposed on the side of the second fixing position away from the rear end of the cover body; one end of the air spring is connected to the area near the front end of the cover body, the other end of the air spring is connected to the first fixing position, and the second fixing position is used for connection to the vehicle body.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this application embodiment are as follows: Compared with traditional metals and rigid plastics, carbon fiber materials have lower weight. This application embodiment uses a cover structure made of carbon fiber material, and the cover is a one-piece structure, resulting in a smaller overall weight of the cover, making it easier to install and transport. Furthermore, considering the insufficient strength of carbon fiber material, this application embodiment also adds a support component to the pickup truck bed cover to support the cover and prevent deformation. Moreover, the support component is located inside the cover and is not exposed to the outside, making the pickup truck bed cover more seamless and improving its aesthetics.

[0016] In addition, compared with the solution of adding a rigid plastic bottom cover to the bottom of the carbon fiber cover to prevent deformation of the surface carbon fiber cover, the cover in this embodiment is an integral structure. Regardless of the ambient temperature of the pickup truck cover, all parts of the cover are at the same degree of thermal expansion and contraction. Therefore, there will be no deformation or falling off problems caused by different expansion degrees due to the inconsistency between the inner and outer materials of the cover, thus ensuring the stability of the cover. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which form part of the specification, are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of this application and illustrate the implementation methods of this application, together with the textual description, to explain the principles of this application. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any creative effort. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a pickup truck bed cover provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a front view of a cover provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a pickup truck bed cover with a car cover provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a cover combined with a corner bracket assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 5 Based on Figure 4 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a cover-and-switch assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of a first elastic locking unit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 8 Based on Figure 4 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0026] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a cover-body bonding reinforcement component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another cover bonding reinforcement component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of another cover-bonding reinforcement component provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a pickup truck bed cover according to an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 13 This is a flowchart of a repair step provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Among them, 10 is a pickup truck bed cover; 100 is a cover body; 101 is a first top surface; 102 is a second top surface; 103 is a third top surface; 104 is an edge; 105 is a first stepped surface; 106 is a second stepped surface; 110 is a support assembly; 120 is a protrusion; 130 is a C-shaped insert; 131 is a socket; 140 is an inner panel; 200 is a reinforcing assembly; 210 is an annular reinforcing rib; 220 is a strip reinforcing rib; 230 is a V-shaped reinforcing rib; 240 is an edge reinforcing rib; 250 is a transverse reinforcing rib; 300 is a corner bracket assembly; 310 is an air spring; 320 is a connecting piece; 321 is a first fixing position; 322 is a second fixing position; 323 is a third fixing position. Positioning; 400, Switch assembly; 410, Flexible button unit; 411, Control end; 412, Connection end; 420, First paddle; 430, Second paddle; 440, First traction line; 450, Second traction line; 460, First flexible locking unit; 461, First mounting base; 462, Second mounting base; 463, First swing arm; 464, Second swing arm; 464a, Lock hook; 465, First connecting post; 466, Second connecting post; 467, First torsion spring; 468, Second torsion spring; 470, Second flexible locking unit; 480, First fixing piece; 481, Fixing part; 482, U-shaped locking rod; 490, Second fixing piece; 500, Car cover. Detailed Implementation

[0032] It should be understood that the terminology, specific structural and functional details used herein are merely for describing particular embodiments and are representative. However, this application may be implemented in many alternative forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0033] In the description of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating relative importance or implying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature; "multiple" means two or more. The term "comprising" and any variations thereof mean non-exclusive inclusion, where one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, units, components, and / or combinations thereof may be present or added.

[0034] In addition, terms such as “center,” “horizontal,” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer” that indicate orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or relative positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the purpose of simplifying the description of this application and do not indicate that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0035] Furthermore, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium, or internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0036] Currently, most pickup truck bed covers are made of cold-rolled steel, fiberglass, and aluminum alloy to ensure strength. However, these metal covers are heavy, making them inconvenient to transport and install, especially one-piece, non-removable cover structures. Furthermore, the aesthetics of the bed cover surface need improvement. Even with painting or applying a film, the surface coating is generally exposed to the external environment, and over time, this affects the appearance of the bed cover.

[0037] Based on this, the present application provides a pickup truck bed cover, such as... Figure 1As shown, the pickup truck bed cover 10 includes a cover body 100 and a support assembly 110. The cover body 100 is an integral structure and is made of carbon fiber material. The support assembly 110 is disposed inside the cover body 100 and is used to support the cover body 100.

[0038] Compared to traditional metals and rigid plastics, carbon fiber materials have lower weight. This embodiment of the application uses a carbon fiber structure for the cover 100, which is also a one-piece structure, resulting in a smaller overall weight and easier installation and transport. Furthermore, considering the insufficient strength of carbon fiber, this embodiment of the application adds a support component to the pickup truck bed cover to support the cover 100 and prevent deformation. Moreover, the support component 110 is located inside the cover 100 and is not exposed to the user, further enhancing the seamless appearance of the pickup truck bed cover 10 and improving its aesthetics.

[0039] In addition, compared with the solution of adding a rigid plastic bottom cover to the bottom of the carbon fiber cover to prevent deformation of the surface carbon fiber cover, in this embodiment of the application, since the cover 100 is an integral structure, regardless of the ambient temperature of the pickup truck cover 10, all parts of the cover 100 are at the same degree of thermal expansion and contraction, so there will be no deformation or falling off problems caused by the different expansion degree of the inner and outer materials of the cover 100, thus ensuring the stability of the cover 100.

[0040] It should be noted that "the cover 100 is a one-piece structure, and the cover 100 is a carbon fiber material structure" means that the cover 100 is primarily made of carbon fiber material, requiring no secondary processing or splicing. This can mean that the cover 100 is directly made of carbon fiber material using injection molding, 3D printing, or other technologies, or that the cover 100 is constructed by laminating layers of carbon fiber membranes. After the cover 100 is formed, it appears as a single, indivisible structure to the human eye, with no visible seams. When the cover 100 is constructed by laminating layers of carbon fiber membranes, it is primarily composed of carbon fiber. However, in the actual manufacturing process, there may be adhesives used to bond the carbon fiber membranes, as well as small amounts of glass fiber or toughening materials added between the carbon fiber membranes to ensure the strength and stability of the cover 100. This does not affect the definition of a carbon fiber material structure; therefore, it is understandable that a carbon fiber material structure does not specifically refer to a structure made entirely of pure carbon fiber.

[0041] It should be noted that "the support component 110 is disposed inside the cover 100" means that the support component 110 is embedded inside the cover 100 during the manufacturing process of the cover 100, so that the support component 110 is not exposed outside the cover 100. Moreover, placing the support component 110 inside the cover 100 does not affect the definition of the cover 100 as a one-piece structure, because the support component 110 is added during the manufacturing process of the cover 100, similar to secondary injection molding, and the support component 110 and the cover 100 cannot be separated. The cover 100 ultimately still appears as a one-piece structure, so it does not affect the definition of the cover 100 as a one-piece structure.

[0042] In this embodiment, the support component 110 is a PMI foam material structure. Since the cover 100 undergoes a high-temperature, high-pressure process during molding, and the support component 110 is already filled inside the cover 100 during this process, the support component 110 must also experience the same high-temperature, high-pressure environment as the cover 100. If the support component 110 experiences significant expansion or contraction under these conditions, it could lead to deformation of the cover 100. Based on this consideration, this embodiment uses a PMI foam material structure for the support component 110. Because PMI foam material is resistant to high temperatures and pressures, it prevents significant deformation of the support component 110 under these conditions. Therefore, the PMI foam material structure of the support component 110 will not affect the shape of the cover 100 or its supporting effect after the cover 100 is molded.

[0043] like Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the cover 100 is not a planar structure, but specifically includes a first top surface 101, a second top surface 102, a third top surface 103, and an edge portion 104. Along the width direction of the cover 100, the first top surface 101, the second top surface 102, and the third top surface 103 are sequentially distributed. On the front side of the cover 100, the second top surface 102 is higher than the first top surface 101 and the third top surface 103. On the back side of the cover 100, both the first top surface 101 and the third top surface 103 protrude beyond the second top surface 102, that is, the second top surface 102 is recessed within the first top surface 101 and the third top surface 103.

[0044] Furthermore, a first stepped surface 105 is formed between the second top surface 102 and the first top surface 101, and a second stepped surface 106 is formed between the second top surface 102 and the third top surface 103; the edge portion 104 is disposed on the edge of the cover 100 and surrounds the first top surface 101, the second top surface 102, and the third top surface 103.

[0045] After the pickup truck bed cover 10 is installed, the rear end of the pickup truck bed cover 10 is rotatably connected to the vehicle body, and the front end of the pickup truck bed cover 10 can rotate around the vehicle body to realize the opening and closing of the pickup truck bed cover 10.

[0046] Furthermore, the two sides of the second top surface 102 are arc-shaped, and the width of the second top surface 102 gradually increases from the front end to the rear end of the pickup truck bed cover 10, that is, along the length of the pickup truck bed cover; moreover, the top of the second top surface 102 is also arc-shaped, and the height of the second top surface 102 gradually decreases from the front end to the rear end of the pickup truck bed cover 10 until it is at the same height as the first top surface 101 and the third top surface 103.

[0047] In some embodiments, the outer surfaces of the second top surface 102 and the edge portion 104 have carbon fiber textures, and the outer surfaces of the first top surface 101 and the third top surface 103 are black. That is, the highest point and the edge position of the top of the outer surface of the cover 100 have carbon fiber textures. The carbon fiber textures can be diamond textures, 3K textures, UD textures, plain textures, diagonal textures, etc. The two sides of the cover 100 and the two stepped surfaces are painted black to further highlight the carbon fiber pattern.

[0048] In other embodiments, the outer surfaces of the first top surface 101, the second top surface 102, the third top surface 103, and the edge portion 104 have carbon fiber textures, while the first stepped surface 105 and the second stepped surface 106 are painted black. Of course, other combinations can also be used.

[0049] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the pickup truck bed cover 10 further includes a cover 500, which covers the outer side of the cover 100. The cover 500 is made of polypropylene material. The cover 500 is 0.5-2mm thick, elastic, and can provide impact resistance and UV protection, further improving the service life of the pickup truck bed cover 10.

[0050] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the pickup truck bed cover 10 further includes a corner bracket assembly 300, which is disposed at the bottom of the cover 100 and is used to connect the cover 100 to the vehicle body; the cover 100 has a front end, a rear end and two sides, the rear end of the cover 100 is rotatably connected to the vehicle body, and the front end of the cover 100 is the opening and closing end of the pickup truck bed cover 10.

[0051] Specifically, the corner bracket assembly 300 includes two air springs 310 and two connecting pieces 320, all located on the back of the cover 100. Each side of the cover 100 is provided with one air spring 310 and one connecting piece 320. The connecting piece 320 has a first fixing position 321 and a second fixing position 322 arranged side-by-side. The first fixing position 321 is located on the side of the second fixing position 322 away from the rear end of the cover 100. One end of each air spring 310 is connected to a region near the front end of the cover 100, and the other end of each air spring 310 is connected to the first fixing position 321. The second fixing position 322 is connected to the vehicle body. When the pickup truck bed cover 10 needs to be opened, the two air springs 310 unfold, simultaneously supporting the front end of the cover 100.

[0052] like Figure 5 As shown, the rear end of the cover 100 has at least two C-shaped inserts 130. One end of each C-shaped insert 130 is connected to the cover 100, specifically fixed to the back of the cover 100. The other end of each C-shaped insert 130 has an insertion hole 131. The C-shaped insert 130 is connected to the vehicle body by passing through the insertion hole 131 via a collar. The collar is annular and passes through the insertion hole 131 on the C-shaped insert 130 and the corresponding connection hole on the vehicle body to connect the rear end of the pickup truck bed cover 10, allowing the C-shaped insert 130 and the pickup truck bed cover 10 to rotate around the vehicle body.

[0053] It should be noted that the C-shaped insert 130 is not interpreted as the cross-section of the insert being only C-shaped, but rather as a similar shape representation. The insert can also be L-shaped or U-shaped.

[0054] The connecting piece 320 is further provided with a third fixing position 323. The third fixing position 323 is located on the side of the second fixing position 322 away from the first fixing position 321. The third fixing position 323 is sleeved on the C-shaped insert 130, and the third fixing position 323 is a racetrack-shaped through hole with its major axis greater than the width of the C-shaped insert 130 and its minor axis less than the width of the C-shaped insert 130.

[0055] When the pickup truck bed cover 10 needs to be opened, the air spring 310 unfolds. Since the first fixing position 321 and the second fixing position 322 are both vertical racetrack-shaped and perpendicular to the third fixing position 323, the screw connecting the air spring 310 moves in the first fixing position 321 and the screw connecting the vehicle body moves in the second fixing position 322, thereby enabling the C-shaped insert 130 to rotate with the cover 100.

[0056] Furthermore, the pickup truck bed cover 10 in this embodiment is simple to open and close, such as... Figure 6As shown, the pickup truck bed cover 10 also includes a switch assembly 400, which includes a resilient button unit 410, a first lever 420, a second lever 430, a first traction cable 440, a second traction cable 450, a first resilient locking unit 460, a second resilient locking unit 470, a first fixing piece 480, and a second fixing piece 490. The resilient button unit 410 is connected to the front end of the cover 100. The first lever 420, the second lever 430, the first traction cable 440, the second traction cable 450, the first resilient locking unit 460, the second resilient locking unit 470, the first fixing piece 480, and the second fixing piece 490 are also included. 70. The first fixing piece 480 and the second fixing piece 490 are disposed on the back side of the cover 100, and the first elastic locking unit 460 and the second elastic locking unit 470 are respectively connected to the cover 100. The first fixing piece 480 and the second fixing piece 490 are respectively used to connect to the vehicle body. The first elastic locking unit 460 and the second elastic locking unit 470 are respectively located on both sides of the cover 100, and the first fixing piece 480 and the second fixing piece 490 are respectively located on both sides of the cover 100, that is, each side of the cover 100 has an elastic locking unit and a fixing piece.

[0057] The elastic button unit 410 passes through the cover 100, and the control end 411 of the elastic button unit 410 protrudes from the front end of the cover 100. The connection end 412 of the elastic button unit 410 is connected to both the first paddle 420 and the second paddle 430. It should be noted that the first paddle 420 and the second paddle 430 can be two separate structures or an integral structure.

[0058] As an optional implementation, the first paddle 420 and the second paddle 430 are two separate structures that do not affect each other and operate independently. Furthermore, the first paddle 420 is connected to one end of the first traction line 440, and the other end of the first traction line 440 is connected to the first elastic locking unit 460, which engages with the first fixing plate 480 for locking.

[0059] Correspondingly, the second paddle 430 is also connected to one end of the second traction line 450, and the other end of the second traction line 450 is connected to the second elastic locking unit 470. The second elastic locking unit 470 cooperates with the second fixing piece 490 to lock.

[0060] When the control terminal 411 of the elastic button unit 410 is pressed, the elastic button unit 410 controls the first traction line 440 and the second traction line 450 to retract via the first paddle 420 and the second paddle 430, respectively, so that the first elastic locking unit 460 separates from the first fixing piece 480, the second elastic locking unit 470 separates from the second fixing piece 490, and the pickup truck bed cover 10 opens.

[0061] When the pickup truck bed cover 10 is closed, the first elastic locking unit 460 locks with the first fixing piece 480, the second elastic locking unit 470 locks with the second fixing piece 490, the first traction line 440 and the second traction line 450 unfold, and the first paddle 420, the second paddle 430 and the elastic button unit 410 reset.

[0062] It should be noted that the two levers, as well as the traction lines, elastic locking units and fixing plates on both sides of the cover 100 are symmetrically arranged, so that the two sides of the pickup truck bed cover 10 move simultaneously and are evenly stressed during the opening and closing process, making the pickup truck bed cover 10 stable in opening and closing.

[0063] like Figure 7 As shown, taking the first elastic locking unit 460 as an example, the first elastic locking unit 460 includes a first mounting base 461, a second mounting base 462, a first swing arm 463, a second swing arm 464, a first connecting post 465, a second connecting post 466, a first torsion spring 467, and a second torsion spring 468. The first mounting base 461 is connected to the cover 100. The second mounting base 462 and the first mounting base 461 are arranged opposite each other, and a transmission space is formed between the second mounting base 462 and the first mounting base 461. The first connecting post 465 and the second connecting post 466 are arranged side by side in the transmission space. The two ends of the first connecting post 465 are respectively connected to the second mounting base 462 and the first mounting base 461, and the two ends of the second connecting post 466 are respectively connected to the second mounting base 462 and the first mounting base 461.

[0064] The transmission end of the first swing arm 463, the second swing arm 464, the first torsion spring 467, and the second torsion spring 468 are disposed within the transmission space. The main body of the first torsion spring 467 is sleeved on the first connecting post 465, and the torsion arm of the first torsion spring 467 is connected to the first swing arm 463. The main body of the second torsion spring 468 is sleeved on the second connecting post 466, and the torsion arm of the second torsion spring 468 is connected to the second swing arm 464. The first traction line 440 is connected to the connecting end of the first swing arm 463. The transmission end of the first swing arm 463 is connected to one end of the second swing arm 464. The other end of the second swing arm 464 is provided with a locking hook 464a. The first fixing plate 480 includes a fixing part 481 and a U-shaped locking rod 482. The fixing part 481 is connected to the vehicle body, and both ends of the U-shaped locking rod 482 are connected to the fixing part 481.

[0065] When the first traction line 440 retracts, the tightening force of the first traction line 440 is transmitted to the second swing arm 464 through the first swing arm 463, the locking hook 464a of the second swing arm 464 is lifted, and the U-shaped locking rod 482 disengages from the locking hook 464a of the second swing arm 464.

[0066] When the first traction line 440 is deployed, the first swing arm 463 is reset under the action of the first torsion spring 467, the second swing arm 464 is reset under the action of the second torsion spring 468, and the locking hook 464a of the second swing arm 464 sinks.

[0067] like Figure 8 As shown, the bottom of the cover 100 has two protrusions 122 on each side. An inner plate 140 is located inside each protrusion 122. One end of the air spring 310 is connected to the inner plate 140 below the corresponding protrusion 122. The first mounting base 461 is connected to the inner plate 140 below the corresponding protrusion 122. This design avoids damage to the cover 100 during drilling and connection to the bottom, prevents cracking due to a small connection area, and improves the aesthetics of the bottom of the cover 100.

[0068] The inner panel 140 is embedded inside the cover 100 during the manufacturing process of the cover 100 through a pre-embedding process, and due to the thickness of the inner panel 140 itself, a local position at the bottom of the cover 100 protrudes to form the protrusion 122.

[0069] like Figure 9As shown, to improve the structural strength of the cover 100, the pickup truck bed cover 10 also includes a reinforcing component 200, which is disposed at the bottom of the cover 100; moreover, the reinforcing component 200 is an integral structure with the cover 100, and the reinforcing component 200 is also made of carbon fiber material. It can also be understood that the reinforcing component 200 is a part of the structure of the cover 100.

[0070] The reinforcing component 200 includes an annular reinforcing rib 210 and at least two strip reinforcing ribs 220. The annular reinforcing rib 210 is annular and is disposed along the edge of the cover 100. The strip reinforcing ribs 220 are disposed within the surrounding area of ​​the annular reinforcing rib 210, and the two ends of the strip reinforcing ribs 220 are respectively connected to the opposite sides of the annular reinforcing rib 210. The at least two strip reinforcing ribs 220 are arranged side by side, and the length direction of the strip reinforcing ribs 220 is the same as the length direction of the cover 100.

[0071] As an optional implementation, since the cover 100 includes a first top surface 101, a second top surface 102 and a third top surface 103, the reinforcing component 200 in this embodiment only has an annular reinforcing rib 210 and two parallel strip reinforcing ribs 220, and the orthographic projection of the two strip reinforcing ribs 220 is located within the range of the orthographic projection of the second top surface 102.

[0072] Since the second top part 102 is the tallest and most susceptible to impact, and since it is located in the middle of the cover 100, it is subject to more severe gravity. Therefore, a strip reinforcing rib 220 is provided below the second top part 102 to strengthen the structural strength of the middle area of ​​the cover 100, while annular reinforcing rib 210 strengthens the structural strength of the edge area 116 of the cover 100. In combination, the strength of the entire cover 100 is effectively strengthened.

[0073] Of course, in other embodiments, the number of strip reinforcing ribs 220 may not be two; the specific choice depends on the actual situation.

[0074] Furthermore, such as Figure 10 As shown, the reinforcing component 200 also includes a plurality of V-shaped reinforcing ribs 230. At least two V-shaped reinforcing ribs 230 are provided between adjacent sidewalls of the strip reinforcing rib 220 and the annular reinforcing rib 210. The bottom of the V-shape of the V-shaped reinforcing rib 230 is connected to the corresponding strip reinforcing rib 220, and the top of the V-shape of the V-shaped reinforcing rib 230 is connected to the sidewall of the corresponding annular reinforcing rib 210.

[0075] Since the cover 100 is equipped with air springs 310 and their connecting parts on both sides, and also includes part of the structure of the switch assembly 400, the structural strength of the two sides of the cover 100 is strengthened by providing V-shaped reinforcing ribs 230 on both sides of the back of the cover 100. Furthermore, the V-shaped top and bottom of the V-shaped reinforcing rib 230 are connected to the annular reinforcing rib 210 and the strip reinforcing rib 220 respectively. The V-shaped reinforcing rib 230 combines the annular reinforcing rib 210 and the strip reinforcing rib 220, making the reinforcing assembly 200 a whole, effectively strengthening the strength of all parts of the cover 100. In other embodiments, the V-shaped reinforcing rib 230 can be replaced with X-shaped or other shaped reinforcing ribs.

[0076] As a specific example, the reinforcing component 200 has only annular reinforcing rib 210, two parallel strip reinforcing ribs 220 and four V-shaped reinforcing ribs 230. The orthographic projection of the two strip reinforcing ribs 220 is located within the orthographic projection range of the second top surface 102, and the two strip reinforcing ribs 220 are respectively close to the adjacent step surface. The two reinforcing ribs are arranged side by side between the side wall of one strip reinforcing rib 220 and the adjacent annular reinforcing rib 210, and the other two reinforcing ribs are arranged side by side between the side wall of another strip reinforcing rib 220 and the adjacent annular reinforcing rib 210.

[0077] Of course, in other embodiments, the number of V-shaped reinforcing ribs 230 on each side of the cover 100 may not be two, depending on the actual situation.

[0078] Furthermore, the reinforcing component 200 also includes a plurality of edge reinforcing ribs 240, which are disposed between the annular reinforcing rib 210 and the edge of the cover 100. One end of the edge reinforcing rib 240 is connected to the outer side of the annular reinforcing rib 210, and the other end of the edge reinforcing rib 240 is connected to the edge of the cover 100. Through the above design, the structural strength of the edge region of the cover 100 can be further improved, preventing bending or breakage of the edge of the cover 100.

[0079] like Figure 11As shown, in an optional implementation, the reinforcing component 200 further includes at least two transverse reinforcing ribs 250, which are arranged side by side. The transverse reinforcing ribs 250 are disposed between the two strip reinforcing ribs 220, and both ends of the transverse reinforcing ribs 250 are respectively connected to the two strip reinforcing ribs 220. Since the cover 100 has a large area and a small thickness, if only a local force is applied to the cover 100 during handling and installation, it is easy to cause the cover 100 to twist and deform, which may even lead to cracking. Therefore, in this embodiment, transverse reinforcing ribs 250 are added to the middle region of the cover 100 to further improve the structural strength of the middle region of the cover 100, improve the torsional resistance of the pickup truck bed cover 10, and ensure the stability of the pickup truck bed cover 10.

[0080] As a specific example, the reinforcing component 200 has three transverse reinforcing ribs 250, which are distributed at equal intervals in sequence; the transverse reinforcing ribs 250 are strip-shaped structures, and the three transverse reinforcing ribs 250 are respectively arranged perpendicularly to the strip-shaped reinforcing ribs 220 on both sides.

[0081] Of course, in other embodiments, the reinforcing component 200 may have only two or four or more transverse reinforcing ribs 250, and the transverse reinforcing ribs 250 may be inclined to the strip reinforcing ribs 220, and the transverse reinforcing ribs 250 may even adopt other shape designs.

[0082] like Figure 12 As shown in the embodiments, this application also discloses a method for manufacturing a pickup truck bed cover, used to manufacture the pickup truck bed cover as described above. The manufacturing method includes the following steps:

[0083] S1: Attach the first preset number of carbon fiber films to the mold;

[0084] S2: Place the support assembly at the preset position of the carbon fiber membrane;

[0085] S3: Attach a second preset number of carbon fiber membranes to the support assembly;

[0086] S4: Separate all the carbon fiber membranes and the support components from the mold to obtain the pickup truck bed cover.

[0087] Specifically, in step S1, carbon fiber film is directly adhered to the mold of the pickup truck bed cover. The adhered carbon fiber film forms the bottom shape of the cover, and it sinks into the grooved area of ​​the mold to form a reinforcing component at the bottom of the pickup truck bed cover. The initial preset number of layers is 3-6. It should be noted that each layer of carbon fiber film can be composed of multiple independent carbon fiber film blocks, which are adhered to different areas of the mold to prevent large wrinkles between the adhered carbon fiber film blocks.

[0088] In step S2, the preset position is specifically the location of the reinforcing component, i.e., the location where the carbon fiber membrane is sunk. The support component can be made of multiple strip-shaped PMI foam material structures. By placing the PMI foam material structures into the corresponding sunk positions on the carbon fiber membrane, the overall structural strength of the pickup truck bed cover is strengthened, and the reinforcing component and the carbon fiber membrane at the top of the cover are prevented from denting. Simultaneously, an embedded panel can be pre-embedded into the carbon fiber membrane.

[0089] In step S3, the second preset number of layers is 3-6, with the upper carbon fiber membrane covering the lower carbon fiber membrane and support components. Furthermore, the carbon fiber membrane in step S3 can also be composed of multiple independent carbon fiber membrane blocks, with different blocks adhered to different areas of the mold.

[0090] In steps S1 and S3, to improve the structural strength of the pickup truck bed cover, glass fiber or other tough materials can be added between the carbon fiber membranes.

[0091] In step S4, the mold is placed in a high-temperature environment for treatment, which causes all the carbon fiber membranes to fuse into a single structure. After cooling, a cover with internal support components is obtained, which is the pickup truck bed cover.

[0092] In addition, such as Figure 13 As shown, the manufacturing method further includes a repair step, which is located after step S4 and specifically includes:

[0093] S5: Sandblast the outer surface of the cover;

[0094] S6: Locate defects on the outer surface of the cover;

[0095] S7: Apply epoxy resin adhesive to the defect;

[0096] S8: Polish the epoxy resin adhesive at the defective area;

[0097] S9: Polish the outer surface of the cover;

[0098] S10: Spray colored paint onto the defect, and then coat the outer surface of the cover with transparent paint;

[0099] S11: Polish the outer surface of the cover.

[0100] Through the above-mentioned repair design, the outer surface of the pickup truck bed cover is free of defects, has a good gloss, and its overall aesthetics are further improved.

[0101] It should be noted that the limitations of each step involved in this solution are not considered as limiting the order of steps, provided that they do not affect the implementation of the specific solution. The steps listed first can be executed first, later, or even simultaneously. Solutions from different embodiments can be combined and applied without conflict. As long as this solution can be implemented, they should be considered to fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0102] The above description, in conjunction with specific optional embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of this application and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of this application to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of this application, and all such modifications or substitutions should be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A pickup truck bed cover, characterized in that, The device includes a cover and a support assembly. The cover is an integral structure made of carbon fiber material. The support assembly is disposed inside the cover and is used to support the cover.

2. The pickup truck bed cover as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The support component is a PMI foam material structure.

3. The pickup truck bed cover as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pickup truck bed cover also includes a reinforcing component, which is disposed at the bottom of the cover to increase the structural strength of the cover; the reinforcing component is an integral structure with the cover and is made of carbon fiber material.

4. The pickup truck bed cover as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The reinforcing component includes an annular reinforcing rib and at least two strip reinforcing ribs. The annular reinforcing rib is disposed along the bottom edge of the cover body, and the strip reinforcing ribs are disposed within the surrounding area of ​​the annular reinforcing rib. The two ends of the strip reinforcing ribs are respectively connected to the opposite sides of the annular reinforcing rib, and the strip reinforcing ribs are arranged side by side with each other.

5. The pickup truck bed cover as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The cover includes a first top surface, a second top surface, and a third top surface, which are distributed sequentially along the width direction of the cover. On the front side of the cover, the second top surface is higher than the first top surface and the third top surface; on the back side of the cover, both the first top surface and the third top surface protrude from the second top surface. The annular reinforcing rib is disposed along the bottom edge of the cover and surrounds the first top surface, the second top surface, and the third top surface; the reinforcing component includes two strip reinforcing ribs, which are disposed at the bottom of the second top surface.

6. The pickup truck bed cover as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The reinforcing component further includes at least two transverse reinforcing ribs arranged side by side; the transverse reinforcing ribs are disposed between the two strip reinforcing ribs, and the two ends of the transverse reinforcing ribs are respectively connected to the two strip reinforcing ribs.

7. The pickup truck bed cover as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The reinforcing component also includes three transverse reinforcing ribs, which are distributed at equal intervals and are perpendicular to the strip reinforcing ribs.

8. The pickup truck bed cover as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The reinforcing component also includes a plurality of V-shaped reinforcing ribs. At least two V-shaped reinforcing ribs are provided between adjacent sidewalls of the strip reinforcing ribs and the annular reinforcing ribs. The bottom of the V-shape of the V-shaped reinforcing rib is connected to the corresponding strip reinforcing rib, and the top of the V-shape of the V-shaped reinforcing rib is connected to the sidewall of the corresponding annular reinforcing rib.

9. The pickup truck bed cover as described in any one of claims 3-8, characterized in that, The interior of the reinforcing component is hollow, and the support component fills the interior of the reinforcing component.

10. The pickup truck bed cover as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The pickup truck bed cover also includes a corner bracket assembly disposed at the bottom of the cover for attaching the cover to the vehicle body; The cover has a front end, a rear end, and two sides. The rear end of the cover is rotatably connected to the vehicle body, and the front end of the cover is the opening and closing end of the pickup truck bed cover. The corner bracket assembly includes two air springs and two connecting pieces. Each side of the cover is provided with one air spring and one connecting piece. The connecting piece is provided with a first fixing position and a second fixing position in parallel. The first fixing position is located on the side of the second fixing position away from the rear end of the cover. One end of the air spring is connected to the area near the front end of the cover, and the other end of the air spring is connected to the first fixing position. The second fixing position is used to connect to the vehicle body.

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