1196results about "Load covering" patented technology

An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system for projecting an image of a pattern of a reticle onto an object, via a fluid that is filled in a space between said projection optical system and the object, a vibrator part for vibrating at least one of the fluid, the object, and the projection optical system, and a controller for controlling the vibrator part so that the vibration of at least one of the fluid, the object, and the projection optical system becomes a tolerance during a processing of the object.

A tonneau system for a cargo box of a pickup truck having a framework. The framework having a cross bow member for supporting a cover and being positionable generally over the cargo box of the pickup truck. The tonneau system further includes a latch assembly pivotally coupled to the cross bow member. The latch assembly is positionable in a latched position engagable with the cargo box of the pickup truck, an unlatched position disengagable with the cargo box of the pickup truck, and a nested position substantially retracted from the unlatched position and received within the cross bow member. The tonneau system may further include a biasing member that is substantially received within a portion of the latch assembly to improve consistent spring rates across the actuation range.

A clamp for securing a tonneau cover to the bed of pick-up truck in which the clamp includes a base secured to the cover and a handle rotatably connected to the base. A cam part is located between the handle and the base, which upon rotation of the handle in a general horizontal plane causes the cam part to shift upwardly toward the base into engagement with the truck bed, securing the cover to the truck bed.

A fiber-reinforced composite structure has two molded outer polymeric layers spaced apart from each other and defining a cavity therebetween. Each molded outer polymeric layer defines a sealing surface extending about a periphery of the respective layer, and the opposing sealing surfaces cooperate to define a hermetic seal extending about a periphery of the cavity. One or more multi-directional fiber reinforcement layers are adhesively attached in a discontinuous manner to each outer polymeric layer, and define a first region of the cavity extending between each respective outer polymeric layer and adjacent fiber reinforcement layer, and a second region of the cavity extending between the fiber reinforcement layers. A core is located between the two outer polymeric layers, and is made of a resinous core material capable of exhibiting a foamed character and a resinous character. The resinous core material has a blowing agent activatable upon exposure to a predetermined vacuum pressure within the cavity to convert the core material within the second region of the cavity from a resinous character to a foamed character and thereby fill the second region of the cavity with the foamed core material. Each multi-directional fiber reinforcement layer is impregnated with the core material exhibiting a relatively dense, resinous character, and each first region of the cavity is substantially filled with the core material exhibiting a resinous character to fixedly secure the multi-directional fiber reinforcement layers to the outer polymeric layers. A structural insert, such as a rigid plate adapted to receive fasteners, is embedded within the core material for attaching other devices or structures thereto.

A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle including a support frame, a cover spanning the support frame; and a clamp. The support frame includes side rails having an inboard section and an outboard section, such that the outboard section is positioned adjacent to the top surface of the sidewall of the cargo box to aid in the supporting and positioning of the support frame. The clamp is capable of hanging from the support frame during installation to improve the ease thereof. The clamp also includes a pair of members being positionable in any one of a plurality of discrete positions for improved installation. A front rail adjustment mechanism permits the selective tensioning of the cover to maintain a predetermined load therein. While a front rail retaining mechanism is slidably coupled to the front rail member to prevent the front rail member from being inadvertently disengaged from the side rail members. A rear rail retaining mechanism is used to lock the rear rail member or unlock the rear rail member and urge the rear rail member upward.

A cargo management system for a vehicle includes a substantially rigid load floor panel pivotally connected along a first edge to a base to provide a load floor substantially flush with a vehicle floor when stowed, and pivotally connected along an opposite edge to a rigid grid that may be deployed in a first position above and generally parallel to the base, and a second position generally transverse to the base to extend above any vehicle seats and generally separate a cargo area from a passenger area. The cargo management system may also include a secondary door, panel, or other device to cover a storage well or compartment of the base and to support additional cargo when the load floor panel is deployed.

An improved slat hinge for a laminated retractable truck bed cover that permits greater relative movement between adjacent slats for slat rotation up to 45 degrees to significantly reduce roll diameter while preventing stretching or stress on a pliable surface material that forms the laminate on top of the slats. The hinge itself is formed by strategically designed leading and trailing edges of each slat which engage in an adjacent fashion to permit the desired movement while in the full open position eliminating the possibility of slat disengagement while reducing roll diameter in the stored position resulting in a smooth frictionless hinge rotation with a positive stop.

Tonneau cover assemblies including a cover and side rails that are attached to sidewalls of the cargo box. The cover and side rails include magnetic fastener elements or a combination of hook and loop and magnetic fasteners to secure the cover to the side rails. Preferably, the respective side rails will have a raised ridge so that magnets on the respective sides of the cover can abut against this raised ridge to prevent the magnets from sliding off of the side rail. Various embodiments further include an end plate having two spring biased locking members and a draw cord interconnecting the two locking members; wherein the draw cord includes a pull loop which can be drawn away from the end plate to draw the respective locking members away from respective the side rails so that the end plate can be disengaged from the respective side rails.

A system for forming a retractable cargo support for use over the bed of a truck is disclosed. The system includes a slide system with an elongated slide base having an upwardly opening U-shaped cross-section, an intermediate slide that is slidably mounted within the U-shaped cross-section of the slide base has an upwardly opening U-shaped cross section, and a top slide. The top slide includes a downwardly opening U-shaped cross-section, and is adapted for nesting in a sliding relationship within the U-shaped cross-section of the intermediate slide. A load surface is attached to the top slide, so that mounting the slide base to the bed of the truck allows the load surface to be slid in and out of the bed of the truck.

A clamp structure for a tonneau cover is disclosed and mounted to one frame section of a tonneau cover for releasably securing the frame section on a cargo bed of a pick-up truck. The clamp comprises: a foundation rail having two side grooves and a recess formed between the two side grooves; and a sliding block having two side hangers extended into and slidably moving along the two side grooves and a pivotal portion received in the recess; a clamp bolt; a grip element; and a handle. The side hangers of the sliding block is used to slidably move along the side grooves of the foundation rail, so that the sliding movement of the clamp structure pivotally connected to the sliding block in relation to the foundation rail is more stable and smooth based on two strong support points of the two side hangers in the two side grooves.

A hard tonneau cover having one or more sections is constructed of a framework of extruded rails with one or more section panels held by molded plastic trim strips installed on perimeter rails included in the framework. The cover is mounted above the cargo box of a pick-up truck by a plurality of striker-latch assemblies on one side of the cargo box, and hinge assemblies on the other side, each having components mounted to the cargo box side walls with universal clamp brackets. The panels are constructed of reinforced corrugated plastic which is covered by a color integrated film. A simplified connector plate is used to connect abutting ends of the rails in the framework. A peripheral seal extends down from the perimeter rails in which it is mounted to engage the top of the cargo box side walls and tailgate. Water drainage paths including drainage channels in the rails are provided to eliminate water from the panel surfaces.

A cover assembly for a vehicle carried open top container wherein a cover is connected at one end to a vertically adjustable tower and an opposite end to a cross member connected to a pair of pivot arms that are mounted at their lower ends to be pivoted by at least one hydraulic actuator that is mounted to the vehicle intermediate opposite ends of the container and adjacent the bottom thereof. An effective length of each pivot arm may be adjusted and locked in adjusted position.

A tonneau cover for selectively enclosing a space within a cargo box. The cover has an elongate channel laterally extending between a proximate end located proximate a side edge of the cover and a distal end at which the channel terminates. The cover includes a clamp mechanism slidably engaged with the channel, and the clamp mechanism includes a handle, a block member slidably received in the channel, an elongate rod member coupled to the handle, and a latch or hook member connected to the rod member. The latch member is moveable between a clamped position for operatively engaging a portion of the cargo box and a released position for spacing the latch member from and placing the latch member out of operative engagement with the cargo box. The handle and rod member are positioned in the channel in the clamp mechanism stowed position.

A tonneau cover apparatus for attaching a flexible cover about a cargo box of a vehicle, preferably a pickup truck. The apparatus preferably includes, a support frame removably attached about the perimeter of a cargo box of the vehicle, an elongated end plate attached to an end of the flexible cover, end plate engagement members attached to the support frame and first and second locking members movably connected with the end plate. The end plate may be retained in the fixed stretching position by first and second locking members that preferably slide within a channel in the end plate. In one embodiment, an elongated member is secured to the respective locking members and to a turn knob such that force can be placed upon each respective locking member by turning the turn knob and pulling the elongated member so as to draw each of the respective locking members away from the first position toward the second position. In preferred embodiments the locking members are spring biased toward a locking position where the locking member engages a flange to prevent the end plate from moving out of the fixed stretching position.

A clamp structure for a tonneau cover is disclosed and mounted to one frame section of a tonneau cover for releasably securing the frame section on a cargo bed of a pick-up truck. The clamp comprises: a foundation rail having two side grooves and a recess formed between the two side grooves; and a sliding block having two side hangers extended into and slidably moving along the two side grooves and a pivotal portion received in the recess; a clamp bolt; a grip element; and a handle. The side hangers of the sliding block is used to slidably move along the side grooves of the foundation rail, so that the sliding movement of the clamp structure pivotally connected to the sliding block in relation to the foundation rail is more stable and smooth based on two strong support points of the two side hangers in the two side grooves.

A tonneau cover apparatus for attaching a flexible cover about a cargo box of a vehicle, preferably a pickup truck. The apparatus preferably includes, a support frame removably attached about the perimeter of a cargo box of the vehicle, an elongated end plate attached to an end of the flexible cover, an end plate engagement member attached to the support frame, preferably one on each side of the support frame, and a locking member movably attached to the end plate. The end plate is preferably attached to an end of the flexible cover and is configured to cooperatively engage and pivot with respect to the end plate engagement member or members into and out of a fixed stretching position wherein the flexible cover can be correspondingly be tensed and relaxed. The end plate may be retained in the fixed stretching position by the locking member, in alternate embodiments, a plurality of locking members are provided, preferably locking members that slide within a channel in the end plate. In preferred embodiments the locking member or members are spring biased toward a locking position where the locking member engages a flange of the support frame to prevent the end plate from moving out of the fixed stretching position.

A fastening system for a flexible cover system for a truck box includes a first fastening means on the side edges of the flexible cover and a second fastening means that releasably engages with the first fastening means. The second fastening means comprises a fastening surface disposed on an elongated slat, and is slidingly received in channel portions of side rails mounted on the side of the truck box. The first fastening means can be one member of a hook and loop type fastener and the second fastening surface can be the mating member of the hook and loop type fastener. The elongated slat may also be shorter than the channel portions of the side rail to permit the slat to slide within the channel during operation of the cover system.

A tonneau system for a cargo box of a pickup truck having a framework. The framework having a cross bow member for supporting a cover and being positionable generally over the cargo box of the pickup truck. The tonneau system further includes a latch assembly pivotally coupled to the cross bow member. The latch assembly is positionable in a latched position engagable with the cargo box of the pickup truck, an unlatched position disengagable with the cargo box of the pickup truck, and a nested position substantially retracted from the unlatched position and received within the cross bow member. The tonneau system may further include a biasing member that is substantially received within a portion of the latch assembly to improve consistent spring rates across the actuation range.

A flexible tonneau cover for trucks that is easily folded for storage or shipping. The tonneau cover has a collapsible peripheral frame, with supporting bows spanning the width of the frame. The bows include separable parts for storage or shipping and can be assembled and expanded to spread the frame.

A self-contained, vehicle-mounted system for operating a retractable cover with respect to proximate open top containers transported by the vehicle to cover and uncover the containers. The system includes all of the items necessary to accomplish the covering and uncovering of a container and needs only to be mounted on the vehicle and connected to a source of electric power on the vehicle.

A device for manipulating a tarpaulin so as to selectively cover and uncover a top aperture of a container. The top aperture defines an aperture peripheral edge, the aperture peripheral edge including two substantially opposed substantially longitudinal segments. The tarpaulin is configurable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. In the extended configuration, the tarpaulin substantially covers the top aperture. In the retracted configuration, the tarpaulin is substantially retracted from the top aperture. The device includes an elongated guiding component defining a guiding component longitudinal axis. The guiding component is securable to the container so as to extend at least partially along at least one of the longitudinal segments. A tarpaulin mounting component is usable for attaching the tarpaulin thereto. A link, mechanically coupled to the guiding component, is longitudinally movable therealong between a link proximal position and a link distal position. The tarpaulin mounting component is operatively coupled to the link in a manner such that when the link is in the link proximal position, and the tarpaulin is attached to the tarpaulin mounting component, the tarpaulin is in the retracted configuration. When the link is in the link distal position and the tarpaulin is attached to the tarpaulin mounting component, the tarpaulin is in the extended configuration.

A Collapsible Bed Cap for Trucks is disclosed. The cover has a plurality of collapsible or sectioned ribs extending longitudinally along the length of the bed in order to provide structural rigidity to the cover. The cap or cover is sectional and detachable such that it can be disassembled and / or collapsed and then stored in a single bag. When assembled, the cover has a tight, aerodynamic and aesthetically pleasing material cover to protect truck bed contents from environmental effects. The bed cover further has front and rear arches for strength; these arches are also collapsible for storage. Still further, the cover may be removed from a bed while assembled so that it might be converted into a free-standing awning.

A roll tarp system for efficiently covering a heaped load. The roll tarp system includes a tarp attached to a side of a container, a roller attached to the tarp opposite of the container, a rear bracket attached to a rear end of the container, a rear inner arm pivotally attached to the rear bracket, a rear outer arm pivotally attached to the rear inner arm, a front bracket attached to a front end of the container, a front inner arm pivotally attached to the front bracket, a front outer arm pivotally attached to the front inner arm, and an actuator attached to the front inner arm and the roller for rotating the roller. A rear spring and a front spring are attached to the brackets respectively for applying a closing bias force upon the inner arms respectively. A front bias member is attached between the front inner arm and the front outer arm.

A bi-fold hinge assembly for facilitating the more compact placement of a tonneau cover in a stowed position. The bi-fold hinge includes a first arcuate bracket and a second arcuate bracket, which are pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The bi-fold hinge also includes a front base plate, where the second arcuate bracket is pivotally connected to the front base plate, and a rear base plate, where the first arcuate bracket pivotally connected to the rear base plate. The front base plate is connected to a front side rail, and the rear base plate is pivotally connected to a rear side rail. The front side rail and the rear side rail are part of a frame assembly used for supporting and controlling the movement of the tonneau cover as the tonneau cover is moved between the deployed position and the stowed position.

A tonneau cover assembly includes a flexible cover, a rigid cross member connected with the cover, and a tensioning and / or latching mechanism connected with the cross member. The flexible cover includes a first end and a second end. The first end is disposed adjacent a cab of a vehicle to which the tonneau covers assembly is configured to attach. The second end is disposed adjacent a tailgate of the vehicle. The rigid cross member connects with the cover such that the cross member moves with the cover as the cover is rolled or folded toward the first end. The tensioning and / or latching mechanism connects with the cross member such that the tensioning and / or latching mechanism moves along with the cover as the cover is rolled or folded toward the first end.

The present invention is directed to a seat and cargo carrier apparatus for a vehicle. The seat and cargo carrier apparatus includes a base, a seat assembly, and a wall unit. The seat member is pivotally connected to the base so that the seat assembly is movable between a seating position and a cargo carrying position. In the seating position, the seat assembly provides a seat or bench on which an individual may sit. In the cargo carrying position, the seat assembly is pivoted to provide a deck on which cargo may be carried. The wall unit is also pivotally connected to the base so that the wall unit is moveable between a lowered position and a raised position. In the lowered position, the wall unit provides a step and footrest when the seat assembly is in the seating position. In the raised position, the base the seat assembly and the wall unit cooperate to form a cargo box for securing cargo positioned on the deck.

A tonneau cover assembly is provided having a plurality of substantially rigid panels inserted between the fabric and the bows and then locked into place and / or supported by snap-fit elements connecting to the peripheral frame of the tonneau cover. The snap-fit elements can also serve to positively locate the bows with respect to the frame. The panels can be closely dimensioned with respect to the distance across the frame or spaced somewhat to accommodate insertion about frame hinges and / or close fitting fabric, bows and frames. Two sided adhesive tape can be used between the panels and the snap-fit elements and the bows to maintain panel placement in the event that the assembly is to be a permanent aspect of the tonneau cover. Panels can also be perforated for weight reduction and / or cost savings without significant loss of theft security. Panels can be padded for impact absorption without permanent deformation so as to maintain tonneau cover attractiveness despite significant wear and tear during use.

A tonneau system for a cargo box of a vehicle having a support frame connectable to the cargo box. A cover spans the support frame and is positionable between a tensioned position and an untensioned position. A bow member is coupled to the cover and is moveable between a first position and a second position in response to the movement of the cover between the tensioned position and the untensioned position. A retaining member is then operably coupled to the support frame. The retaining member retains the bow member when the bow member is in the first position and releases the bow member when the bow member is in the second position.