Bestop, Inc.

Extang Corporation

Other

Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Tectum Holdings, Inc.

Mark Alan Hickey

Louis D DeLellis

William A Grabowski

Michael E Hilliard

Robert D Worley

Leonard F Bores

Stephen K Tebbutt

Jerome James Facchinello

William Roy Cohoon

Brian Paul Kozlowski

Joseph J Koengeter

A frame rail assembly for supporting a tonneau cover comprising: opposing frame rails locatable on a cargo area of a vehicle, each of the opposing frame rails having one or more slots formed therein; and one or more inserts that fit within the one or more slots respectively; wherein the one or more inserts are shaped to fit substantially flush with a transverse cross-sectional profile of the opposing frame rails.

Tonneau cover system with insert for supporting cross-bow members

A tonneau cover for covering a cargo box of a vehicle. The tonneau cover includes a plurality of flexible hinges, each of which is between two rigid members. Each flexible hinge includes an elastomeric material having a first portion connected to a first one of the rigid members, a second portion connected to a second one of the rigid members, and a web between the first portion and the second portion. A cut-resistant barrier is associated with the flexible web and bridges between the first portion and the second portion. The cut-resistant barrier is effective to resist penetration by a sharp edge.

Tonneau cover having flexible hinge with cut-resistant barrier

A tonneau cover system can include a cover sized and shaped to cover the truck cargo box and a spring clamp designed to secure the cover to the truck cargo box. The spring clamp can include a rod connected to the cover. The rod can have a rod axis. A clamp body can be rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod. The clamp body can include a pair of oppositely disposed catches spaced apart from the rod axis. The catches can extend in a catch length direction intersecting the rod axis at a first angle. A grasping tether can be attached to the clamp body for manually sliding the clamp body along the rod in a direction away from the cover. Due to the flexible nature of the grasping tether, potential interference of the clamp with cargo in the cargo box can be significantly reduced.

Tonneau cover assembly and clamp with grasping tether

A method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body tensions the soft top without a separate tensioning device. The method includes the general steps of attaching a support member to the motor vehicle for pivotal movement about a transverse pivot axis, supporting an upper rear corner of the top with the support member, and tensioning the top by upwardly and rearwardly biasing the upper rear corner of the top with the support member. The support member functions to provide a spring load for tensioning the top. In the preferred method, the support member is elastically deformed for tensioning the top.

Method for attaching a soft top to a motor vehicle body

A removable door frame assembly for a motor vehicle includes a first portion pivotally interconnected to a second portion. The first portion is adapted to be oriented horizontally and releasably attached to a sport bar assembly of the motor vehicle. The second portion is adapted to be oriented vertically and releasably engage the body of the vehicle. The first portion is configured to releasably retain a retaining element attached to a top section of the soft top and thereby retain the soft top in a cross-car direction. Similarly, the second portion is adapted to releasably retain a retaining element attached to a side section of the soft top and longitudinally retain the side section.

Removable door frame assembly for a motor vehicle

A window assembly for a motor vehicle includes a window frame adapted to removably mount to a lower door assembly. The window assembly further includes a mounting arrangement for removably attaching the window frame to the lower door assembly such that substantially vertical translation of the window frame is required to remove the window frame. The window assembly further includes a stop surface which is carried by the motor vehicle. The stop surface is adapted to oppose vertical translation of the window frame when the lower door assembly is in the closed position. In one form, the stop surface is defined by a removable door frame assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Howell, MI, United States of America

Mark Alan Hickey