Active AERO bed accessory

Abstract

A vehicle bed accessory deployable on or over a bed of a vehicle and comprising an aerodynamic member and an actuator system. The aerodynamic member is adjustable relative to tire vehicle bed accessory by way of the actuator system.

Description

ACTIVE AERO BED ACCESSORYCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 546,641, filed October 31, 2023, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.FIELD

[0002] The present teachings generally relate to an active aerodynamic bed accessory that can improve the aerodynamic performance of vehicles.BACKGROUND

[0003] Trucks are known to have poor fuel economy relative to other classes of consumer vehicles. This may be owing to their engine specifications, weight, and aerodynamics, as well as other factors. There has been an ongoing need in the automotive industry to increase the fuel economy of trucks.

[0004] Truck beds present challenges to the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Air passing over the truck’s surfaces may enter the bed and become trapped in a vortex, form turbulent air, etc. These phenomena can behave differently depending on a variety of factors including the vehicle’s speed and atmospheric properties, complicating any single, rigid approach to address different driving conditions.

[0005] Tonneau covers are commonly deployed on truck beds, and primarily function to protect cargo within the bed from the elements (e.g., rain, snow, wind, etc.) and from theft. While tonneau covers can provide a surface for air to pass along, there remains gaps in tire aerodynamic performance of trucks. Moreover, tonneau covers may not be used or fully deployed while driving. For instance, a driver who frequently accesses the bed may, at least at times, leave the tonneau cover open due to the inconvenience of repeatedly opening and closing the tonneau cover.

[0006] There is a need to improve fuel economy of trucks.

[0007] There is a need to address air passing along and / or into truck beds.

[0008] There is a need for an aerodynamic solution that can adapt to different driving and / or atmospheric conditions.

[0009] There is a need for an aerodynamic solution that may be employed with tonneau covers and other bed accessories, such as chase racks.

[0010] There is a need for an aerodynamic solution that may not require a tonneau cover to be fully deployed over the bed while driving.SUMMARY

[0011] The present teachings describe a vehicle bed accessory that may address at least some of the needs identified above.

[0012] The vehicle bed accessory may be deployable on or over a bed of a vehicle. The vehicle bed accessory may comprise an aerodynamic member and an actuator system. The aerodynamic member may be adjustable relative to the vehicle bed accessory by way of the actuator system.

[0013] The aerodynamic member may be adjusted based on a state of the vehicle. Tire state may include a speed of the vehicle, a gear shift position, an open or closed state of one or more doors of the vehicle, an open or closed state of one or more windows of the vehicle, or any combination thereof. The aerodynamic member may be adjusted while the vehicle is being driven, while the vehicle is parked, or both.

[0014] Tire vehicle bed accessory may signally communicate with a network of the vehicle. The vehicle bed accessory may have a wired and / or a wireless connection with the network. The state of the vehicle may be communicated to the vehicle bed accessory via the network. The network may be a CAN bus. Tire vehicle bed accessory may signally communicate with the network via an OBD-II port.

[0015] The vehicle bed accessory may include a tonneau cover, a truck cap, a chase rack, or any combination thereof.

[0016] Tire aerodynamic member may comprise at least one surface that interacts with air flowing around the vehicle and toward the bed. The at least one surface may influence a direction of air flowing around the vehicle, access of the air into the bed, a drag of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.

[0017] The actuator system may pivotably translate the aerodynamic member, axially translate the aerodynamic member along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, axially translate the aerodynamic member along a transverse axis of the vehicle, axially translate the aerodynamic member along a vertical axis of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.

[0018] The actuator system may axially and / or pivotably translate the aerodynamic member between stored and deployed positions.

[0019] The vehicle bed accessory may be a tonneau cover. The aerodynamic member may be a spoiler. The at least one surface of the aerodynamic member may be continuous with a top surface of the tonneau cover when the aerodynamic member is in the stored position. The at least one surface of the aerodynamic member may be discontinuous with the top surface of the tonneau cover when tire aerodynamic member is in the deployed position.

[0020] The spoiler may be located proximate to a front edge of the tonneau cover, proximate to a middle of the tonneau cover, or proximate to a rear edge of the tonneau cover. Tire front edge may be adapted tolocate proximate to a cab of a vehicle. The rear edge may be adapted to locate proximate to a tailgate of a vehicle.

[0021] The tonneau cover may include one or more rigid panels (e.g., one, two, three, four, or even five rigid panels). Multiple of the rigid panels may be hingedly engaged with one another. The one or more rigid panels may extend between two opposing sidewalls of the bed. The one or more rigid panels may be supported by two opposing side walls of the bed or by frame rails connected to the two opposing sidewalls of tire bed. The spoiler may be located on one of tire one or more rigid panels.

[0022] The tonneau cover may include two or more rigid panels. The aerodynamic member may be one of the two or more rigid panels.

[0023] The aerodynamic member may telescope relative to the other of the two or more panels.

[0024] The actuator system may include a linear motor, a rotary motor, a rotary-to-linear translation mechanism, a lincar-to-rotary translation mechanism, one or more linkages, or any combination thereof.

[0025] Tire actuator may be powered by a vehicle battery, a battery local to the vehicle bed accessory, a battery- local to tire aerodynamic member, a photovoltaic panel, or any combination thereof.

[0026] The vehicle bed accessory may further comprise one or more of: an electrically powered lock, one or more lights, and a camera.

[0027] The vehicle bed accessory may comprise a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module may communicate with a remote module engaged by a wired connection to the network of the vehicle. Tire remote module may be engaged with an OBD-II port. Tire wireless communication module may communicate with a mobile computing device.

[0028] The aerodynamic member may be adjustable based on inputs from one or more sensors. Tire one or more sensors may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an altimeter, or any combination thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle comprising a vehicle bed accessory according to the present teachings.DESCRIPTION

[0030] Tire present teachings describe a vehicle bed accessory- having one or more active aerodynamic features. “Active” may refer to moveable, e.g., by an actuator, based on one or more conditions such as conditions of the vehicle, conditions external from the vehicle, or both. That is, the one or more aerodynamic features may change configuration in reaction to the one or more conditions. In this regard, aerodynamic performance can be modulated to improve gas milage.

[0031] The vehicle bed accessory’ may be deployable on or over a bed of a vehicle. Tire vehicle bed accessory may be located on and / or over a bed. The bed may comprise a plurality of walls. The walls may include two opposing side walls, a front wall proximate to a cab. and a tailgate opposing the front wall. The vehicle bed accessory may be fastened to and / or supported by the walls of the bed.

[0032] The vehicle may be defined by a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis. The transverse and vertical axes may be orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The aerodynamic member described herein may pivotably and / or axially translate relative to said axes. In this regard, the aerodynamic member may interact with air flows in various different ways depending on tire characteristics of said air flows.

[0033] It is understood that when the vehicle is driven at speed, air flows travel over a roof of the cab and over sides of the cab. At least some of these air flows may travel above and / or into the bed. Turbulence may be generated behind the cab and within the bed. Turbulent air flows may diminish the aerodynamic efficiency of tire vehicle. Moreover, the tailgate may impede air flows from exiting the bed.

[0034] Tire aerodynamic members described herein may interact with airflows to at prevent or at least mitigate turbulence and / or impedance by the tailgate. Depending on the speed of the vehicle, air flows traveling past the cab may approach and / or enter the bed at different angles and locations along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Moreover, the present teachings contemplate that environmental factors (conditions external from the vehicle) may play a role in the characteristics of the air flow. The environmental factors may include temperature, air density, humidity, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0035] The aerodynamic member may be adjusted based on one or more of the environmental factors. In this regard, one or more sensors may be employed. The one or more sensors may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an altimeter, or any combination thereof. The inputs from the altimeter may be correlated with air density.

[0036] In another aspect, the aerodynamic member may be in a first configuration (e.g., a stored configuration) when tire vehicle is not operational and a second configuration (e.g., a deployed configuration) when the vehicle is operational. In this regard, operation of the vehicle or prepared operation of the vehicle may be indicated by a motor on / off state, a gear shift position (e.g., in park, drive, reverse, etc.), an open or closed state of one or more doors of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.

[0037] In another aspect, it is contemplated that the position of one or more windows of the vehicle may affect the air flows that ultimately may travel towards the bed. In this regard, the aerodynamic member may be adjusted based on an open or closed state of the one or more windows. The aerodynamic member may be adjusted to compensate for any reduced aerodynamic effects that open windows may have upon the vehicle, to adjust for an air patterns resulting from open or closed windows, or both.

[0038] In some aspects, the aerodynamic member may induce a drag on the vehicle . Drag may be generally understood as diminishing fuel economy. However, in some circumstances, the fuel economy effects of drag may be surpassed by the fuel economy effects of strategically guiding air relative to the bed.

[0039] Exemplary vehicle bed accessories may include a tonneau cover, a truck cap, a chase rack, or any combination thereof. The foregoing may be located on and / or over the bed. Thus, said vehicle bed accessories may leveraged to locate aerodynamic members to manipulate air flows that travel towards the bed.

[0040] The vehicle bed accessory may comprise an aerodynamic member. The aerodynamic member may function to interact with air. divert air from a bed, induce drag, reduce drag, or any combination thereof. The aerodynamic member may be attached to and / or adjustable relative to the vehicle bed accessory.

[0041] The aerodynamic member may include a spoiler, one or more panels, or both. The aerodynamic member may comprise at least one surface that interacts with air flowing past a cab of the vehicle and toward the bed. Tire at least one surface may influence a direction of air flowing along the vehicle, access of the air into the bed, a drag of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.

[0042] The spoiler may comprise one or more surfaces, the surfaces may be curved, flat, angled, or any combination thereof. The spoiler may be fixed or deployable such that it extends above the component of the vehicle to which it is attached. The spoiler may be actuated between a stored position and a deployed position. In the stored position, the spoiler may be generally flush with the vehicle bed accessory, retract to within the vehicle bed accessory, or both. Tire spoiler may be actuated to change an angle of one or more surfaces of the spoiler. Hie spoiler may be located proximate to a front edge of the tonneau cover, proximate to a middle of the tonneau cover, or proximate to a rear edge of the tonneau cover.

[0043] The panel may comprise a generally flat surface. The panel may be adapted to at least partially cover the bed. The panel may provide a surface along which air may flow to avoid entering the bed. The panel may be actuated between a stored position and a deployed position. In the stored position, the panel may be hidden under or within a tonneau cover, drop into the bed, or both. The panel may pivot to drop into the bed. For example, the panel may pivot into the bed and orient generally vertically. Hie panel may be actuated to increase at least one dimension of the panel's coverage of the bed along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, to change position along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, or both.

[0044] In some aspects, the panel may be a panel of a tonneau cover that is adjustable relative to the other panels of the tonneau cover, although the present teachings contemplate that the panel may be separate from any tonneau cover. Hie aerodynamic member that is a panel of the tonneau cover may telescope relative to one or more other panels of the tonneau cover, pivot relative to one or more other panels of the tonneau cover, or both.

[0045] The panel may extend between two opposing sidewalls of the bed. The panel may be supported by one or more frame rails connected to the two opposing side walls of the bed. The panel may axially translate along the one or more frame rails. In this regard, the one or more frame rails may each comprise a track within which the panel travels.

[0046] The panel may have a dimension relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle adapted to cover about 1 / 3 or less, 1 / 4 or less, 1 / 5 or less, or even 1 / 6 or less of the bed. As described herein, the coverage of the panel may be adjustable. The coverage may be continuous from a front wall of the bed and terminate short of the tailgate. Hie coverage may be continuous from a tailgate of the bed and terminate short of the front wall. The coverage may be discontinuous on a front wall portion of the bed and a tailgate portion of the bed. In this regard, the panel may be located in a position between the front wall and tailgate, and the bed may be uncovered beyond two opposing ends of the panel.

[0047] The vehicle bed accessory may comprise an actuator system. Tire actuator system may function to move or adjust the aerodynamic member. The actuator system may connect the aerodynamic member to the vehicle bed accessory.

[0048] The actuator system may pivotably translate the aerodynamic member, axially translate the aerodynamic member along one or more axes of the vehicle, or both.

[0049] The actuator system may axially and / or pivotably translate the aerodynamic member between a stored position and a deployed position. In a stored position, the aerodynamic member may be hidden from view, become flush with a vehicle bed accessory, fonn a continuous surface with the vehicle bed accessory, locate within the bed, or any combination thereof. In a deployed position, the aerodynamic member may extend from a vehicle bed accessory, interact with air, influence the aerodynamics of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.

[0050] The actuator system may include one or more motors, rotary-to-linear translation mechanisms, lincar-to-rotary translation mechanisms, hydraulic cylinders, linkages, or any combination thereof. The linkages may include gears, chains (e.g., roller chains), belts, cables, pulleys, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0051] The motor may be a linear motor or a rotary motor. The linear motor may provide for said axial and / or pivotal translation. The rotary motor may provide for said axial and / or pivotal translation. The linear motor may provide for pivotal translation by a lincar-to-rotary translation mechanism such as a bell crank linkage, a crank and slider linkage, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0052] The rotary motor may provide for linear translation by a rotary-to linear mechanism such as a ball screw, a bell crank linkage, a crank and slider linkage, the like, or any combination thereof.

[0053] The motor may act directly on the aerodynamic member or indirectly through said translation mechanisms, linkages, or both.

[0054] The actuator system may be electrically powered. Tire actuator system may be powered by a vehicle battery, a battery local to the vehicle bed accessory, a battery local to the aerodynamic member, a photovoltaic panel, or any combination thereof. The power arrangement may depend on the location and / or configuration of the vehicle bed accessory. In regard to location, access points to a power system of the vehicle may be considered. In regard to configuration, mounting surfaces and / or storage of a batten and a photovoltaic panel may be considered.

[0055] Tire aerodynamic member may be adjusted based on a state of the vehicle, one or more environmental factors, or both. The state of the vehicle may include a speed of the vehicle, a gear shift position, a motor on / off state, an open / close state of one or more doors of the vehicle, an open or closed state of one or more windows of the vehicle, or any combination thereof. Preferably, the aerodynamic member may be adjusted at least based on a correspondence with the speed of the vehicle.

[0056] Tire vehicle bed accessory' may signally communicate with a network (e.g., CAN bus) of the vehicle. The vehicle bed accessory may have a wired and / or a wireless connection with the network. The state of the vehicle may be communicated to the vehicle bed accessory via the network. One or more environmental factors may be communicated to the vehicle bed accessory via the network. In this regard, the vehicle bed accessory may be regulated based on one or more signals from the vehicle. Network communication with the vehicle may be advantageous to avoid the need for any supplemental sensors, controllers, or otherwise. Rather, hardware native to tire vehicle may be leveraged for tire operation of the vehicle bed accessory.

[0057] An exemplary wired communication may be via an OBD-II port. Although, the present teachings contemplate other wired connections such as directly to one or more controllers (e.g., via a wiring harness), wire splicing, the like, or any combination thereof. The network may be accessed through a bed of the vehicle. In this regard, it is understood that some modem vehicles are provided with network and / or power connectivity within the bed. Tire present teachings also contemplate that a trailer wiring harness may establish a wired connection with the vehicle bed accessory.

[0058] The vehicle bed accessory may comprises a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module may communicate with a remote module engaged by a wired connection to the network of the vehicle. The wireless communication module may communicate with a mobile computing device.

[0059] Tire vehicle bed accessory may further comprise one or more electrically powered locks, lights, cameras, or any combination thereof. These electronic features may leverage the power and / or network connections described herein. The vehicle bed accessory may be controlled by the vehicle, a mobile computing device (e.g.. a smartphone, smartwatch, or the like), a key FOB, or any combination thereof.The lights may include interior lighting, left and right turn signals, brake lights, (c.g., a center high mounted stop lamp (“CHMSL”)), or any combination thereof.

[0060] Examples.

[0061] The spoiler may be located on a tonneau cover, a truck cap, a chase rack, or any combination thereof. The spoiler may be located proximate to a tailgate of the vehicle. The spoiler may be located on a rearmost panel of the tonneau cover. The spoiler may modify the profile of air behind the vehicle. The spoiler may divert air up from the tailgate. The spoiler may influence a turbulent air pocket behind the vehicle. The spoiler may be stored within a panel of the tonneau cover. The tonneau cover may comprise a panel structure. The panels may comprise a top surface, a bottom surface, and a spacer material therebetween. Tire spoiler may locate, in a stored position, in a space within a panel.

[0062] The spoiler may be located on a truck cap. The spoiler may be located on a rearmost portion of the truck cap. Tire spoiler may modify7the profile of air behind the vehicle. Tire spoiler may divert air up from the rearmost portion of the truck cap. Tire spoiler may influence a turbulent air region behind tire vehicle. The spoiler may be stored within the truck cap. The spoiler may locate, in a stored position, in a space formed under a surface of the truck cap.

[0063] The spoiler may be located on a chase rack. The chase rack may be located proximate to a reannost surface of the cab. The spoiler may modify the profile of air behind the cab. The spoiler may divert air up from the bed. The spoiler may influence a turbulent air region behind the cab. The chase rack may comprise a compartment in which the spoiler may be stored.

[0064] The panel may be located over a bed. Hie panel may be located proximate to a tailgate of the vehicle. The panel may be attached to a tailgate, to two opposing walls of the bed, on one or more rails affixed to the two opposing walls of the bed, or any combination thereof. The panel may at least partially block air from entering the bed. Tire panel may be integral to a tonneau cover.

[0065] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10 with an exemplary vehicle bed accessory 12 (shown as a singlepaneled tonneau cover) installed thereon, covering a bed 14. Tire vehicle bed accessory 12 has an aerodynamic member 16 (shown as a spoiler) located proximate to a rear edge thereof, above a tailgate 18. The aerodynamic member 16 is movable by an actuator system 20.

[0066] It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application.

[0067] Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply tire invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description.

[0068] Accordingly, the specific embodiments of tire invention set forth herein arc not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0069] The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

[0070] The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

[0071] Plural elements can be provided by a single integrated element. Alternatively, a single element might be divided into separate plural elements.

[0072] Tire disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element is not intended to foreclose additional elements.

[0073] The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”. inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.

[0074] Unless otherw ise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers betw een the endpoints in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units betw een any low er endpoint and any higher endpoint. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component, a property, or a value of a process variable such as, e.g., temperature, pressure, time, and the like is, e.g., from 1 to 90, from 20 to 80. or from 30 to 70. it is intended that intermediate range values such as, e.g.. 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32, etc., are within the teachings of this specification. Likewise, individual intermediate values are also within the present teachings.

[0075] For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, or 0. 1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest endpoint and the highest endpoint enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

[0076] The term “consisting essentially of’ to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components, or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. Tire use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components, or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components, or steps.

[0077] While the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, and / or section from another region, layer, and / or section. Terms such as '‘first,’’ "second." and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Tirus, a first element, component, region, layer, and / or section discussed below could be temred a second element, component, region, layer, and / or section without departing from the teachings.

[0078] Spatially relative tenns, such as “inner,” “outer,” '‘beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper.” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. For example, if the device in the drawings is turned over, elements described as “below ” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherw ise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0079] 10 vehicle

[0080] 12 vehicle bed accessory

[0081] 14 bed

[0082] 16 aerodynamic member

[0083] 18 tailgate

[0084] 20 actuator system

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:Claim 1: A vehicle bed accessory deployable on or over a bed of a vehicle and comprising an aerodynamic member and an actuator system; wherein the aerodynamic member is adjustable relative to the vehicle bed accessory by way of the actuator system.Claim 2: The vehicle bed accessory according to Claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic member is adjusted based on a state of the vehicle; wherein the state includes a speed of the vehicle, a motor on / off state, a gear shift position, an open or closed state of one or more doors of the vehicle, an open or closed state of one or more windows of tire vehicle, or any combination thereof.Claim 3: The vehicle bed accessory according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the vehicle bed accessory signally communicates with a network of the vehicle, optionally via an OBD-II port: wherein the vehicle bed accessory has a wired and / or a wireless connection with the network; and wherein the state of the vehicle is communicated to the vehicle bed accessory via the network.Claim 4: The vehicle bed accessory according to any one of tire preceding claims, wherein tire vehicle bed accessory includes a tonneau cover, a truck cap, a chase rack, or any combination thereof.Claim 5 : The vehicle bed accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerodynamic member comprises at least one surface that interacts with air flowing around the vehicle and toward the bed; and wherein the at least one surface influences a direction of air flowing around the vehicle, access of the air into the bed, a drag of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.Claim 6: The vehicle bed accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator system pivotably translates the aerodynamic member, axially translates the aerodynamic member along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, axially translates the aerodynamic member along a transverse axis of the vehicle, axially translates the aerodynamic member along a vertical axis of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.Claim 7 : The vehicle bed accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator system axially and / or pivotably translates the aerodynamic member between stored and deployed positions.Claim 8: Tire vehicle bed accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle bed accessory is a tonneau cover.Claim 9: The vehicle bed accessory according to Claim 8, wherein the aerodynamic member is a spoiler.Claim 10: Tire vehicle bed accessory according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the at least one surface of the aerodynamic member is continuous with a top surface of the tonneau cover when the aerodynamic member is in the stored position; and wherein the at least one surface of the aerodynamic member is discontinuous with tire top surface of the tonneau cover when the aerodynamic member is in the deployed position.Claim 11 : Tire vehicle bed accessory according to any one of Claims 8 through 10, wherein the spoiler is located proximate to a front edge of the tonneau cover, proximate to a middle of the tonneau cover, or proximate to a rear edge of the tonneau cover.Claim 12: The vehicle bed accessory according to Claim 8, wherein the tonneau cover includes two or more rigid panels: and wherein the aerodynamic member is one of the two or more rigid panels.Claim 13: Tire vehicle bed accessory according to Claim 12, wherein the actuator system axially translates the aerodynamic member relative to the other of the two or more rigid panels to selectively locate over the bed along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.Claim 14: The vehicle bed accessory according to Claim 12 or Claim 13, wherein the aerodynamic member telescopes relative to the other of the two or more rigid panels.Claim 15: The vehicle bed accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator system includes a linear motor, a rotary motor, a rotary-to-linear translation mechanism, one or more linkages, or any combination thereof.Claim 16: The vehicle bed accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is powered by a vehicle battery, a battery local to the vehicle bed accessory, a battery local to the aerodynamic member, a photovoltaic panel, or any combination thereof.Claim 17: Tire vehicle bed accessory according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle bed accessory' further comprises one or more of: an electrically powered lock, one or more lights, and a camera.Claim 18: The vehicle bed accessory according to any one of tire preceding claims, wherein the vehicle bed accessory comprises a wireless communication module: wherein the wireless communication module communicates with a remote module engaged by a wired connection to the network of the vehicle; optionally wherein the remote module is engaged with an OBD-II port.Claim 19: The vehicle bed accessory according to any one of tire preceding claims, wherein the aerodynamic member is adjustable based on inputs from one or more sensors; and wherein the one or more sensors include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an altimeter, or any combination thereof.

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