Vertical Stacking Tonneau Cover for Full Bed Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional foldable tonneau cover systems for pickup trucks require complete removal to access the truck bed, which is inconvenient and wastes storage space, as they are typically folded horizontally and do not allow full access due to a remaining portion covering the bed.
Innovation Solution
A tonneau cover system with four foldable sections hingedly connected to allow pivotal stacking and rotation upward, enabling the cover to be stowed vertically adjacent the cab, thus allowing complete access to the truck bed without full removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tonneau cover is folded horizontally toward the rear of the passenger cabin, then the cover can be stowed when not in use, but a substantial portion of the cover remains covering the pickup truck bed, preventing complete access to the bed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the cover stowing mechanism from horizontal folding to vertical stacking. The cover sections pivot upward from a horizontal folding motion into a vertical stacked configuration against the cab, utilizing the third dimension (vertical space) to resolve the contradiction between complete bed access and convenient stowing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover sections are designed to nest within each other when stacked vertically. Each section pivots and stacks upon the adjacent section, creating a compact nested arrangement that maximizes space efficiency while allowing complete bed access when deployed.
2Ease of operation
If the tonneau cover system is completely removed from the pickup truck to gain complete access to the bed, then full access is achieved, but the system requires storage either in the bed (consuming valuable storage space) or at an off-truck location (inconvenient)
Solution Approach 1:
The tonneau cover system serves itself by providing its own stowing solution. When not in use, the cover sections pivot vertically and stack against the cab, eliminating the need for external storage locations or bed storage, thus saving time and maintaining convenience without complete removal.
3Area of stationary object
If conventional foldable tonneau covers are folded horizontally, then the cover can be stowed, but the remaining portion covering the bed equals the footprint of a single foldable section, reducing effective bed access
Solution Approach 1:
The invention moves the stowing operation from the horizontal plane to the vertical dimension. By pivoting the cover sections upward into a vertical stack against the cab, the system clears the entire horizontal bed surface while maintaining convenient stowing in the vertical space above the bed.
Data Source
AI summary
A tonneau cover system for a cargo box of a pickup truck having a first tonneau section, a second tonneau section, a third tonneau section, and a fourth tonneau section, each being generally coplanar in an extended position. A first hinge system hingedly couples the first and second sections to permit pivotal stacked nesting of the first section relative to the second section. A second hinge system hingedly couples the second and third sections to permit pivotal stacked nesting of the combination of the first and second sections relative to the third section. Finally, a third hinge system hingedly couples the third section to the fourth section to permit pivotal movement of the combination of the first, second, and third tonneau sections relative to the fourth section into a retracted, stacked, and rotated upward position.