Patent Application
20250154789
The open bed of a truck is convenient for hauling cargo, but is left exposed to the elements, such as direct sunshine, rain, snow, and hail. There are shade structures that can be deployed on the ground and placed near the truck to protect people and/or equipment from the weather conditions. These shade structures typically cannot be deployed on the truck bed, and even if the user sets up the shade structure in the back of or over the truck bed, the shade structure must be taken down before the truck can be driven.
The open bed of a truck is designed for hauling cargo and is convenient for other uses such as performing work (contractors, environmental sampling, etc.) and for recreation (tailgating, camping, etc.). However, truck beds are exposed to the elements, such as direct sunshine, rain, snow and hail.
There are shade structures that can be deployed on the group and placed near the truck to protect people and/or equipment from weather conditions. These shade structures typically cannot be deployed on the truck bed and for the limited products that do incorporate the truck bed into the structure, the shade structure still relies on ground placement. Therefore, these must be taken down before moving the truck.
A truck bed canopy device is disclosed as it may be installed on a truck bed (e.g., a pickup truck) for numerous purposes, including but not limited to, commercial, recreational, and personal use. In an example, the truck bed canopy device is readily deployable, and can remain up or be taken down and stowed for travel.
The truck bed canopy device is designed to be deployed on the vehicle to allow for mobility of the vehicle while the device is deployed and servicing its purpose, but also for ease of set up and take down and for structural stability.
The truck bed canopy device is collapsible, and is compact when stored so that it fits within the cab or can be stowed on the tailgate of the pickup truck. When deployed, the canopy covers all or part of the bed of the truck. The canopy also extends to cover the tailgate, and beyond the tailgate to cover an area behind the tailgate. The canopy does not inhibit closing the tailgate when deployed or stored on the tailgate. Even when deployed, the canopy does not prevent driving the truck.
The canopy does not inhibit the closing of the tailgate when deployed allow for the safe driving of the vehicle while still deployed. When not deployed, the truck bed canopy device is stored within a carrying case that fits inside the cab of the truck or within the truck bed.
Before continuing, it is noted that as used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” mean, but is not limited to, “includes” or “including” and “includes at least” or “including at least.” The term “based on” means “based on” and “based at least in part on.”
It is also noted that the examples described above are provided for purposes of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting. Other devices and/or device configurations may be utilized to carry out the operations described herein. In addition, while the invention is described as it may be utilized with a pickup truck, it is noted that the truck bed canopy may also be used with other vehicles (including but not limited to other types of trucks and even trailers).
The operations shown and described herein are provided to illustrate example implementations. It is noted that the operations are not limited to the ordering shown. Still other operations may also be implemented.
In an example, the truck bed canopy device 10 does not need to be taken down to drive the truck. For example, the truck bed canopy device 10 may remain in a deployed state for driving. Or for example, the canopy 12 can be taken off and the remaining structure may stay in a deployed state for driving. The truck bed canopy device 10 may also be quickly unassembled and stored (e.g., in the bed 2 of the truck, in the cab, in a trailer, etc.). In an example, the truck bed canopy device 10 may even be stored on the tailgate of the truck, as seen for example, in
An example of the truck bed canopy device 10 includes post members 14a, 14b. In an example, the post members 14a, 14b have a substantially square or rectangular cross section. The post members 14a, 14b can be installed in a vertical orientation in the bed 2 of the truck 1. For example, the post members 14a, 14b may be attached to two plates 16 mounted to the inside wall of the truck bed 2.
The example truck bed canopy device 10 also includes rafter members 18a, 18b each separately connected on a first end to a top portion of each of the post members 14a, 14b. In an example, the rafter members 18a, 18b have a substantially U-shaped cross section.
Drop members 20a, 20b extend between each of the post members 14a, 14b and a second end of each of the rafter members 18a, 18b. In an example, the drop members 20a, 20b are hinged to the respective rafter members 18a, 18b. The drop members 20a, 20b are configured to be connected to any of a plurality of positions on the respective post members 14a, 14b to adjust a height of the cross member 24 and the drip edge.
A ridge member 22 extends between the top portions of the rafter members 18a, 18b. A cross member 24 extends between the second end of the rafter members 18a, 18b to form a drip edge. In an example, the ridge member 22 and the cross member 24 are each sized to be approximately the width (e.g., the interior width) of the bed 2 of the truck 1. In an example, the ridge member 22 and the cross member 24 have a circular cross section.
In an example, a first opening is formed in the first end of each of the rafter members 18a, 18b. The first opening is configured to receive the ridge member 22. A second opening is formed in the second end of each of the rafter members 18a, 18b. The second opening is configured to receive the cross member 24.
After assembling the structure of the example of the truck bed canopy device 10, the canopy is connected on the first end to the cross member 24. The canopy extends over the ridge member and connects to the truck in the deployed state.
In an example, at least one loop is provided (e.g., sewn) in a first end of the canopy 12. The cross member 24 is received through the loop(s). At least one attachment line 26a, 26b on a second end of the canopy 12 connects the canopy 12 to the truck 1. In an example, a hook 28a, 28b on the attachment line(s) 26a, 26b connect the canopy 12 to the truck 1 and adjust tension in the attachment line(s) 26a, 26b. An adjustment member (e.g., a turnbuckle or “come-along”) on the attachment line(s) 26a, 26b may be provided to adjust tension in the canopy. In another example, the attachment line(s) 26a, 26b may be made of bungee cord.
The drop members 20a and 20b may be made from 1.25 inch square tubing having one open side so that it is shaped substantially like a U. This allows these sections to be folded over post members 14a and 14b when stored, as seen in the top drawing in
The rafter members 18a and 18b are also made from 1.5 inch square tubing having one open side so that it is shaped substantially like a U. Rafter members 18a and 18b are larger to fold over drop members 20a and 20b, as seen in the top drawing in
The example truck bed canopy device 10 also includes a ridge member 22. The ridge member 22 extends between the top portion of the rafter members 18a, 18b, and also between the top portions of the posts 14a, 14b. Ridge member 22 has a substantially circular cross section. The example truck bed canopy device also includes a cross member 24 with a substantially circular cross section. Cross member 24 extends between the second end of the rafter members 18a, 18b to form a drip edge. The mounting plates 16 are also seen in
An example method of installing the canopy device 10 in the bed 2 of a truck 1 includes Another example method includes attaching the posts 14a, 14b to the respective plates 16 mounted to each side of the inside of the truck bed 2 near the tailgate 3. Next, first and second post members 14a, 14b are installed in a vertical orientation on an inside wall of the truck bed 2. The example method also includes connecting first and second rafter members 18a, 18b to the first and second post members 14a, 14b. The example method also includes positioning first and second drop members 20a, 20b to extend between the post members 14a, 14b and the corresponding rafter members 18a, 18b.
The example method also includes positioning a ridge member 22 to extend between the first rafter member 18a and the second rafter member 18b. The example method also includes positioning a cross member 24 to extend between the first rafter member 18a and the second rafter member 18b to form a drip edge.
The example method also includes connecting the first end of a canopy 12 to the cross member 24. For example, the cross member 24 may be slid through a loop sewn along the edge of the canopy 12. The example method also includes extending the canopy 12 over the ridge member 22 and connecting a second end of the canopy 12 to the truck 1, e.g., via attachment lines 28a, 28b.
The drop bars 20a, 20b and rafter members 18a, 18b are extended out from the posts 14a, 14b, and a cross bar 24 is slid through the circular holes of the four bars and the loop of the canopy 12, creating a triangle in the frame that secures the canopy 12.
Once set up, the post members 14a, 14b may be raised to elevate the canopy 12, and then secured to the plates 16. The hooks 28a, 28b on the attachment lines 26a, 26b attach the canopy 12 to the truck 1 near the cab, and are adjusted or pulled tight to secure the entire canopy 12. Once deployed, the tailgate 3 of the truck 1 can be closed and the truck 1 can be driven without taking down the canopy 12.
In an example, the loop runs the entire width of the canopy 12 at the end. There is no loop at the top. The line that runs along the sides to secure the canopy 12 to the bed by the cab of the truck loops the circular cross bar, runs within the canopy, and exits near the cab of the truck.
To deploy the canopy, each of the posts 14a and 14b are attached to the plate using a threaded bolt with a T grip on the end to allow for hand tightening. The posts 14a and 14b are laying on the tailgate at an angle at this time. The ridge member 22 at the top that runs between the two posts 14a and 14b is attached to both posts 14a and 14b. The canopy itself is rolled out and over the top ridge member 22 and the bottom crossbar or outer crossbar (that is within the canopy 12 at all times) is attached to the outer point where 20 and 22 converge. The posts 14a and 14b are then elevated to a vertical position and secured to the plate 16 using the second bolt with a Trip on it. Finally, the line running the sides of the canopy 12, within the canopy 12, are hooked to the location near the bed of the truck, and the lines are tightened using the come along.
It is noted that the examples shown and described are provided for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Still other examples are also contemplated.
