The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 30, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2012
Takashi Nagao, Aichi, JP;
Hiroyuki Mori, Nagoya, JP;
Toshihiko Nakano, Nagoya, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A tonneau cover device includes a tonneau cover coupled to a hatchback door. A movable guide arranged on the tonneau cover is guided by a fixed guide arranged in the vehicle to guide the tonneau cover. The movable guide is separated from the fixed guide when the hatchback door opens. A controller moves the tonneau cover to an extension position when the hatchback door closes and a storage position when the hatchback door opens. A detector detects whether movement of the tonneau cover is obstructed due to contact with an object. The controller temporarily interrupts movement of the tonneau cover when the detector detects that the movement of the tonneau cover to the storage position has been obstructed and restarts the movement of the tonneau cover to the storage position when determining that the movable guide has been separated from the fixed guide as the hatchback door opens.