• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The invention is a pick-up truck bed cover for a fifth-wheel hitch. The cover is one-piece and is sized to fit over the front and side rails of the pick-up bed. The invented cover has a unitary top surface, which may be divided into several sections, or areas. One such area is a central recessed, but closed, channel extending forwardly from the back of the cover. This channel is for allowing the trailer hitch tongue to enter during coupling or uncoupling of the trailer. At the front end of the channel is a semi-circular or U-shaped area with an opening for receiving the trailer hitch tongue during towing use of the truck. The opening is located so that it is over the fifth-wheel connecting hitch installed in the bottom of the truck bed over the back axle. Preferably, the opening is covered by a tarp boot which is fastened around the outer edge of a raised flange that surrounds the opening. The tarp boot is constructed so that it extends from the raised flange up and around the goose neck of the trailer during towing use of the truck. When not towing, the tarp boot is folded down and fastened so that it keeps the weather out of the opening, and does not flap in the wind. The semi-circular or U-shaped area is partially surrounded by a central raised area that is lower than the side edges of the cover. This way, the cover, preferably made of plastic or fiberglass material, may be made in one, unitary piece.
    公开号:CA2281061A1
    申请号:C2281061
    申请日:1999-08-24
    公开日:2001-02-10
    发明作者:Alvin D. Luke
    申请人:Alvin D. Luke；
    IPC主号:B62D53-08
    专利说明:
    10 Title of Invention: Pick-Up Truck Bed Cover for Fifth-Wheel Hitch Inventor: Alvin D. Luke DESCRIPTION Field of the Invention. This invention relates generally to tonneau-type covers for pick-up trucks. More specifically, this invention relates to a one-piece pick-up truck bed cover for use with a fifth-wheel hitch. Related Art. There are several designs available for tonneau-type covers for pick-up trucks.U.S. Patent X4,832,354 (Rafi-Zadeh) discloses a vertically extensible pick-up truck cover with a central opening for receiving the fifth-wheel tongue. The central opening is covered by a separate hatch during non-towing use of the truck. Also, an open channel is provided in the cover through which the trailer hitch tongue is movable during coupling and uncoupling of the trailer. This open channel is also covered by the separate hatch when coupling and uncoupling operations are not being accomplished. U.S. Patent X5,056,856 (Pederson) discloses a removable pick-up truck cover comprising multiple, separate panel sections which mate onto an undercarriage. Some of the panel sections may be hinged to permit access to the pick-up bed without necessitating any detachment of panel sections. U.S. Patent #5,183,309 (Jordan) discloses a pick-up tonneau cover with hinged panel sections which provide access to the pick-up bed. U.S. Patent #5,303,947 (Gerber) discloses a pick-up truck cover for use with a fifth-wheel hitch. The cover has a central opening for receiving the trailer tongue, and a separate hatch for covering the opening during non-towing use of the truck. Still, there is a need for an economical, effective, one-piece pick-up truck bed cover for use with fifth-wheel hitches. This invention addresses that need. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is a pick-up truck bed cover for a fifth-wheel hitch. The cover is one-piece and is sized to fit over the front and side rails of the pick-up bed. Optionally, the front end of the cover may abut the back end of a bed tool box, if one is present at the front of the bed. Therefore, different bed covers for different pick-up bed sizes and styles are required. However, these differences in the industry are not numerous, and most modern pick-ups may be accommodated with only several different cover sizes. The invented cover is one-piece, and has an integral top surface, which may be divided into several sections, or areas. One such area is a central recessed, but closed, channel extending forwardly from the back of the cover. This channel is for allowing the trailer hitch tongue to enter during coupling or uncoupling of the trailer. At the front end of the channel is a central semi-circular or U-shaped area with an opening for receiving the trailer hitch tongue during towing use of the truck. The opening is located so that it is over the fifth-wheel connecting hitch installed in the bottom of the truck bed over the back axle. Preferably, the opening is covered by a tarp boot which is fastened around the outer edge of a raised flange that surrounds the opening and the semi-circular or U-shaped area. The tarp boot is constructed so that it extends from the raised flange up and around the goose neck of the trailer during towing use of the truck. When not towing, the tarp boot is folded down and fastened so that it keeps the weather out of the opening, and does not flap in the wind. This way, the pick-up truck bed cover, preferably made of plastic or fiberglass material, may be made in one, unitary piece. Preferably, the cover is fastened to the truck bed at the front rail by a set of hooks on the cover which cooperate with a set of eyelets fastened to the front rail. This way, the cover may be lifted up from the back and pivoted up for access to the covered truck bed during non-towing use of the truck. Preferably, the cover is also fastened to the truck bed near the back at the side rails by a set of rotating latches, one on each side. This way, the cover may be effectively secured in the closed position. Preferably, just inside the pick-up bed side rail, the cover is slightly recessed, especially beside and behind the central opening. This feature permits use of a smaller opening, while still allowing clearance for the trailer gooseneck while turning during towing use of the truck. The entire top surface of the cover is preferably slightly sloped in order to provide drainage of water. Near the front of the cover it is preferably sloped to drain at the sides. Beside and behind the central opening the cover is preferably sloped to the rear and center, in order to drain into the channel. In turn, the channel is slightly sloped to the rear, so that it can drain off the back of the truck. Appropriate weather stripping is provided so that all connections between the truck bed and the cover will be weather tight. In addition, if the tarp boot has a zipper to help in attaching it to the goose neck of the trailer, then the zipper is preferably water resistant also. Optionally, access to beneath the closed cover may be provided by access doors or drawers with appropriate weatherproof covers and latches. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially in cross-section, of one embodiment of the invention in use while towing a fifth-wheel house trailer. Figure 2 is a rear, top perspective view of one embodiment of the invention without the tarp boot.
    Figure 3 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the invention in the raised position, showing its underside. Figure 4 is a rear, top perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with the tarp boot in the folded-down position. Figure 5 is a side, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention with a trailer tongue hitch attached. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the Figures, there are depicted several, but not all, embodiments of the present invention. In Figure 1 is depicted a rear, top perspective view, partially in cross-section, of the invention 10 in use while towing a fifth-wheel house trailer 12. The cover 10 of the invention is one-piece and sized to fit over the front and side rails of the pick-up bed 14. Optionally the front end of the cover may abut the back end of a bed tool box (not shown), if one is present at the front of the bed 14. Therefore the cover 10 of the invention must be sized differently to fit different pick-up bed sizes and styles from the different pick-up truck manufacturers. However, these differences in the industry are not numerous, and most modern pick-ups may be accommodated with only several different cover 10 sizes. In Figure 2 is depicted a rear, top perspective view of the cover 10 of the invention mounted on the bed 14 of a pick-up truck. The invented cover 10 has unitary top surface 16. Surface 16 is divided into several different sections, or areas. One such area is a central recessed, closed channel 18 which extends forwardly from the back of cover 10. Channel 18 is for allowing-the trailer hitch tongue to enter during coupling or uncoupling of the trailer. At the front end of channel 18 is a central semi-circular or U-shaped area 20 with an opening 22 for receiving the trailer hitch tongue during towing use of the truck. Preferably, semi-circular or U-shaped area 20 is raised relative to channel 18 to fit over the fifth-wheel connecting hitch (not shown) installed in the bottom of the truck bed over the back axle. The opening 22 is located directly over the fifth-wheel connecting hitch. Opening 22 may be custom-cut out of area 20 to fit the size of the particular hitch tongue of the user.
    On both sides of channel 18 are rear raised areas 24 and 24'. These rear raised areas are higher (about 6 - 14", for example) than recessed channel 18 in order to maximize volume in the pick up bed 14 under cover 10. However, rear raised areas 24 and 24' are slightly lower (about 2 - 4°, for example) than side edges 26 and 26' of cover 10 in order to minimize interferences between top surface 16 of cover 10 and the hitch tongue of the trailer while turning during towing use of the truck. Rear raised areas 24 and 24' extend forwardly from the back of cover 10 to just before semi-circular or U-shaped area 20. Also, these rear raised areas extend side-to-side from channel 18 to side edges 26 and 26', which side edges are about 2-4 inches wide. In front of rear raised areas 24 and 24' is central raised area 28. Central raised area 28 is higher (about 8 - 16°, for example) than recessed area 18, and slightly higher (about 1 - 3", for example) than rear raised areas 24 and 24' in order to maximize volume in the pick-up bed 14 under cover 10. However, central raised area 28 is slightly lower (about 1 - 3", for example) than side edges 26 and 26' of cover 10 in order to encourage drainage therefrom onto rear raised areas 24 and 24' and into channel 18. Preferably, semi-circular or U-shaped area 20 is partially surrounded by central raised area 28. Also, preferably raised flange partially surrounds area 20 and rests on central raised area 28. Preferably, central raised area 28 is about 4-8 inches higher 25 than semi-circular or U-shaped area 20. Preferably, raised flange 30 is about 1 ~ - 4 inches higher than central raised area 28. Furthermore, raised flange 30 surrounds area 20 only so far as not to interfere with the trailer hitch tongue while turning during towing use of the truck. Central raised area 28 extends forwardly from rear 30 raised areas 24 and 24' beside and beyond semi-circular or U-shaped area 20 and raised flange 30 to within about 16-32 inches of the front of cover 10. Raised flange 30 and channel 18 have snaps 32 for receiving a tarp boot which is fastened around flange 30 and into channel 18. In front of central raised area 28 is front area 34. Preferably, front area 34 is at the same level as side edges 26 and 26', and it extends forwardly from central raised area 28 to the front of cover 10. Alternatively, front area 34 may extend to the back end of an optional tool box (not shown) at the front of the pick-up bed I4. Also, front area 34 extends side-to-side to both side edges 26 and 26'. In Figure 3 is depicted a bottom view of one embodiment of the invention in the raised position. In this view the different areas of top surface 16 described in relation to Figure 2 may be seen, except from their bottom side. Also clearly visible in this view are hooks 36 and 36' which correspond to a set of eyelets (not shown) for being received in the front rail of the pick-up bed. Preferably, hooks 36 and 36' are solid, slightly s-shaped metal tabs that slide into the eyelets for a temporary connection between cover 10 and bed 14 (that is, without permanently-connected fasteners and without a permanent connection between the cover and bed 14). However, a set of hinges, as depicted in the Figure 3, may be used as hooks 36 and 36', and may be bolted, for example, to the front rail of the pick-up bed 14. Figure 3 also depicts telescoping and locking struts 38 and 38' connected to the bottom aide of cover 10 for fastening to the inside of the side railings of pick-up truck bed 14. These struts assist the user in lifting up cover 10 from the back and pivoting it up for access to the covered truck bed during non-towing use of the truck. Figure 3 also depicts integral, vertical rear section 40. This way, the tailgate of the pick-up may be removed and replaced with rear section 40. Also, doors and drawers made be installed in rear section 40 to allow access to convenient storage, even during towing use of the truck. Figure 4 depicts a rear, top perspective view of an embodiment of the cover 10 with tarp boot 42 installed and in the folded (non-towing) position. Figure 5 depicts a side, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention with a trailer tongue hitch 44 attached. Optional doors, drawers and hatches may be provided in cover 10 as desired by or for the user. Such openings may provide access to, for example, the pick-up hitch control, interior tool boxes and bins, or other electrical or pneumatic/hydraulic equipment. Also, standard electrical and pneumatic/hydraulic control plugs and connectors may also be provided under cover 10 for trailer equipment. Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (2)
    [1] 1. A pick-up bed cover for a fifth wheel hitch, comprising:a unitary piece with a top surface divided into a plurality of areas, said areas comprising:a central, recessed, closed channel extending forwardly from the back of the cover to a semi-circular or U-shaped area; and said semi-circular or U-shaped area comprising an opening for receiving the tongue of a fifth-wheel trailer hitch.
    [2] 2. A pick-up bed cover for a fifth wheel hitch, comprising:a unitary piece with a top surface divided into a plurality of areas, said areas comprising:a central, recessed, closed channel extending forwardly from the back of the cover to a semi-circular or U-shaped area;said semi-circular or U-shaped area comprising an opening for receiving the tongue of a fifth-wheel trailer hitch;side edge areas being adapted to fit over side rails of a pick-up truck bed; and a central raised area beside and at least partially surrounding said semi-circular or U-shaped area, said central raised area being lower than said aide edge areas.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    CN105857422A|2016-04-27|2016-08-17|天津港汇盛码头有限公司|Dismounting and storing mechanism for gooseneck of tractor|
    法律状态:
    2005-08-24| FZDE| Dead|
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US37196999A| true| 1999-08-10|1999-08-10||
    US09/371,969||1999-08-10||
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