Tonneau Cover Fixing Device Inward Push Disengagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tonneau cover devices require cumbersome operation to wind the cover, especially when a user has both hands occupied with baggage, as they necessitate pulling the end cap orthogonal to the pull-out direction to disengage the hook from the engagement hole.
Innovation Solution
A tonneau cover device with a fixing device and cover-urging mechanism that includes a slider, hook, and conversion mechanism, allowing the tonneau cover to be easily wound by pushing it inwards, where the hook swings to disengage from the locking portion when a force greater than the urging force is applied, simplifying the operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hook portion is pulled upward orthogonal to the pull-out direction to disengage from the engagement hole, then the tonneau cover can be wound, but the operation becomes cumbersome when the user has both hands occupied with baggage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the user to pull the end cap upward to disengage the hook, the invention inverts the operation by having the hook automatically disengage when the end cap is pushed inward. The conversion mechanism transforms the inward pushing motion into a swinging motion of the hook that causes the engagement protruding portion to retract into the case, releasing the locking portion without requiring upward pulling motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion mechanism enables the hook to automatically swing and disengage from the locking portion when the end cap is pushed inward. The slider moves in response to the pushing force, and through the conversion mechanism, this motion automatically triggers the hook to swing and retract the engagement protruding portion, making the disengagement process self-actuating rather than requiring a separate manual operation.
2Ease of operation
If a simple pushing motion is used to wind the cover, then the operation becomes easier, but the mechanism requires a conversion mechanism to transform linear motion into swinging motion
Solution Approach 1:
The hook is supported swingably on the slider, allowing it to dynamically change its position from protruding to retracted state. The conversion mechanism utilizes this swinging capability to transform the linear sliding motion of the slider into the rotational swinging motion of the hook, enabling the engagement protruding portion to move in and out of the case automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider acts as an intermediary component between the end cap and the hook. When the end cap is pushed inward, the slider moves and through the conversion mechanism translates this linear motion into swinging motion of the hook. This intermediary mechanism efficiently couples the simple pushing motion to the complex disengagement action.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables simple and efficient winding of the tonneau cover with minimal effort, improving workability even when the user has baggage, allowing easy operation with one hand.
Implementation Method 1
a spring provided to urge the slider against the sidewall
Implementation Method 2
a conversion mechanism configured to convert a sliding movement of the slider toward the sidewall into a swinging movement of the hook
Implementation Method 3
when a force is exerted on the engagement protruding portion... and the exerted force acting on the engagement protruding portion is larger than the urging force of the cover-urging mechanism... the hook swings such that the engagement protruding portion retracts
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiment provides a tonneau cover device. The tonneau cover device includes a tonneau cover and a fixing device to engage with a lock portion to thereby hold the tonneau cover in a pulled-out-and-held state. The fixing device includes: a slider provided in a slidable manner and a hook provided in a swingable manner. When a force is exerted on an engagement protruding portion of the hook as a result of pushing in the tonneau cover toward the winding direction from the pulled-out-and-held state, and the exerted force acting on the engagement protruding portion is larger than the normally-given urging force acting on the engagement protruding portion, the hook swings such that the engagement protruding portion retracts into the case while causing the slider to be pushed in away from the sidewall, thereby being disengaged from the locking portion.