Roll-Top Cover Slat Hinge and Seal for Low-Friction Weatherproofing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior art roll top covers for truck beds are not fully weather resistant and impervious to moisture and dust, and they experience significant frictional forces during operation, making opening and closing difficult.

Innovation Solution

A slat assembly with interconnected slats featuring a sealing member, arcuate hook and channel hinge arrangement, and a stop element that reduces friction and enhances sealing, allowing for easier operation and improved weather resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional roll top covers are used, then basic covering function is provided, but weather resistance and dust protection are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweather resistanceVSAvoidmoisture and dust ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing member in the form of a flexible lip or film extends from the lower surface of each slat to contact the upper surface of the adjacent slat, creating a flexible seal that prevents moisture and dust ingress while accommodating movement between slats during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The cover is divided into multiple discrete slats with individual sealing members at each junction, allowing each slat to be sealed independently to adjacent slats, ensuring comprehensive weather protection across the entire assembled structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If traditional slat connections are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but frictional forces during operation are significant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidopening and closing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge connection incorporates an arcuate channel with a curved profile that receives the arcuate hook, allowing the slat to pivot smoothly along a curved path during opening and closing operations, reducing friction and wear while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge elements act as intermediary components between adjacent slats, with the arcuate hook and channel providing a low-friction pivot connection that facilitates smooth relative movement while maintaining strong structural attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11885177B2Slat assembly

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 OAKMOORE

AI summary

A slat assembly for a roll top cover enables an improved sealing arrangement and reduced frictional forces. The assembly includes: a plurality of successive and interconnected slats, each of the slats comprising opposed and adjoining first and second ends and upper and lower surfaces; and first and second hinge elements disposed at the respective first and second ends of each slat and integral therewith, the first and second hinge elements configured to define a hinge arrangement that facilitates relative pivotal movement between the slats; wherein the slat assembly is operable between extended and retracted positions.