Vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck

Abstract

A vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck. The cargo bed of the pickup truck is defined by a pair of side walls having tops, respectively, and a tailgate to access the cargo bed of the pickup truck. The top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a pair of ends. Each end of the top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a through bore therein. The vented tonneau covering includes netting that covers the cargo bed of the pickup truck, and an apparatus that holds down the netting over the cargo bed of the pickup truck.

Claims

1. A vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck, wherein the cargo bed of the pickup truck is defined by a pair of side walls having tops, respectively, and a tailgate to access the cargo bed of the pickup truck, wherein the top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a pair of ends, wherein each end of the top of each side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck has a through bore therein, and wherein said vented tonneau covering comprising: a) netting for covering the cargo bed of the pickup truck; and b) means for holding down the netting over the cargo bed of the pickup truck; wherein said netting is rectilinear-shaped; wherein said netting has a pair of axial boundaries; wherein said netting is for overlying the cargo bed of the pickup truck, while each axial boundary of said netting is for resting upon the top of a respective side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck, wherein said netting contains a plurality of through bores; wherein said plurality of through bores of said netting is for allowing the cargo bed of the pickup truck to vent and breathe.

2. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein said plurality of through bores of said netting are formed in a matrix.

3. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein each through bore of said netting is round.

4. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein each through bore of said netting has a diameter of about 1 for preventing debris being carried in the cargo bed of the pickup truck from existing therethrough during motion of the pickup truck.

5. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein said netting is made from at least one of heavy duty plastic and nylon.

6. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein said netting contains printed matter for purposes including advertisement.

7. The vented tonneau cover of claim 1, wherein said means includes a pair of ratchet hold downs.

8. The vented tonneau cover of claim 7, wherein each ratchet holds down of said means includes a ratchet assembly.

9. The vented tonneau cover of claim 8, wherein each ratchet hold down of said means includes a strap with a pair of ends.

10. The vented tonneau cover of claim 9, wherein said pair of ends of the strap of said ratchet assembly of each ratchet hold down of said means engages an associated pair of axially aligned through bores at the pair of ends of the top of the associated side wall, either by hooks and/or loops, depending upon truck vintage and/or owner's preference.

11. The vented tonneau cover of claim 9, wherein said ratchet assembly of each ratchet hold down of said means is operatively connected to, so as to tighten and loosen, the strap of an associated ratchet hold down of said means.

12. The vented tonneau cover of claim 9, wherein said strap of each ratchet hold down of said means is for only running along the top of a respective side wall of the cargo bed of the pickup truck and over a respective axial boundary of the netting so as to sandwich the netting therebetween, and in so doing, maintaining the netting taunt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

(1) The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged dramatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted oval identified by ARROW in FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

Introductory

(5) 10 vented tonneau cover of embodiments of present invention for cargo bed 12 of pickup truck 14 12 cargo bed of pickup truck 14 14 pickup truck 16 pair of side walls defining cargo bed 12 of pickup truck 14 18 tops of pair of side walls defining cargo bed 12 of pickup truck 14, respectively tailgate of cargo bed 12 of pickup truck 14 22 pair of ends of top 18 of each side wall of pair of side walls 16 24 through bore of each end of pair of ends of top 18 of each side wall of pair of side walls 16

Overall Configuration of Vented Tonneau Cover 10

(6) 26 netting for covering cargo bed 12 of pickup truck 14 28 preferred embodiment of apparatus for holding down netting 26 over cargo bed 12 of pickup truck 14

Specific Configuration of Netting 26

(7) 30 pair of axial boundaries of netting 26 for resting upon tops 18 of side walls 16 of cargo bed 12 of pickup truck 14, respectively 32 plurality of through bores of netting 26 for allowing cargo bed 12 of pickup truck 14 to vent and breathe 33 printed matter of netting 26 for purposes including advertisement

Specific Configuration of Preferred Embodiment of Apparatus 28

(8) 34 pair of ratchet hold downs of apparatus 28 36 strap of each ratchet hold down of pair of ratchet hold downs 34 of apparatus 28 38 pair of ends of strap 36 of each ratchet hold down of pair of ratchet hold downs 34 of apparatus 28 40 ratchet assembly of each ratchet hold down of pair of ratchet hold down 34 of apparatus 28 42 hooks and/or loops of each ratchet hold down of pair of ratchet hold downs 34 of apparatus 28

Specific Configuration of Alternate Embodiment of Apparatus 128

(9) 128 apparatus 134 pair of bungee cords of apparatus 128 136 elastic strap of each bungee cord of pair of bungee cords 134 of apparatus 128 138 pair of ends of elastic strap 136 of each bungee cord of pair of bungee cords 134 of apparatus 128 140 pair of hooks of each bungee cord of pair of bungee cords 134 of apparatus 128 for engaging an associated pair of axially aligned through bores 24 at pair of ends 22 of top 18 of associated side wall 16

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Introductory

(10) Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, the vented tonneau cover of the embodiments of the present invention is shown generally at 10 for a cargo bed 12 of a pickup truck 14.

(11) The cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14 is defined by a pair of side walls 16 having tops 18, respectively, and a tailgate 20 to access the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14.

(12) The top 18 of each side wall 16 of the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14 has a pair of ends 22. Each end 22 of the top 18 of each side wall 16 of the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14 has a through bore 24 therein.

Overall Configuration of the Vented Tonneau Cover 10

(13) The overall configuration of the vented tonneau cover 10 can best be seen in FIG. 1, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

(14) The vented tonneau cover 10 comprises netting 26 and an apparatus 28. The netting 26 is for covering the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14, and the apparatus 28 is for holding down the netting 26 over the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14.

Specific Configuration of the Netting 26

(15) The specific configuration of the netting 26 can best be seen in FIG. 1, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

(16) The netting 26 is rectilinear-shaped, has a pair of axial boundaries 30, and is for overlying the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14, while each axial boundary 30 of the netting 26 is for resting upon the top 18 of a respective side wall 16 of the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14.

(17) The netting 26 contains a plurality of through bores 32 for allowing the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14 to vent and breathe.

(18) The plurality of through bores 32 of the netting 26 are formed in a matrix. Each through bore 32 of the netting 26 is, preferably, round and, preferably, has a diameter of about 1 for preventing debris being carried in the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14 from existing therethrough during motion of the pickup truck 14.

(19) The netting 26 is made from at least one of heavy duty plastic and nylon, and can contain printed matter 33 for purposes including advertisement.

Specific Configuration of the Preferred Embodiment of the Apparatus 28

(20) The specific configuration of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 28 can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

(21) The apparatus 28 includes a pair of ratchet hold downs 34.

(22) Each ratchet hold down 34 of the apparatus 28 includes a ratchet assembly 40 and a strap 36 with a pair of ends 38.

(23) The pair of ends 38 of the strap 36 of the ratchet assembly 40 of each ratchet hold down 34 of the apparatus 28 are for engaging an associated pair of axially aligned through bores 24 at the pair of ends 22 of the top 18 of the associated side wall 16, either by hooks and/or loops 42, depending upon truck vintage and/or owner's preference.

(24) The ratchet assembly 40 of each ratchet hold down 34 of the apparatus 28 is operatively connected to, so as to tighten and loosen, the strap 36 of an associated ratchet hold down 34 of the apparatus 28.

(25) The strap 36 of each ratchet hold down 34 of the apparatus 28 is for only running along the top 18 of a respective side wall 16 of the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14.

(26) The strap 36 of each ratchet hold down 34 of the apparatus 28 only runs over a respective axial boundary 30 of the netting 26 so as to sandwich the netting 26 therebetween, and in so doing, maintaining the netting 26 taunt.

Specific Configuration of the Alternate Embodiments of the Apparatus 128

(27) The specific configuration of the alternate embodiment of the apparatus 128 can best be seen in FIG. 3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

(28) The apparatus 128 includes a pair of bungee cords 134.

(29) Each bungee cord 134 of the apparatus 128 includes an elastic strap 136 with a pair of ends 138.

(30) The pair of ends 138 of the elastic strap 136 of each bungee cord 134 of the apparatus 128 include a pair of hooks 140, respectively, that are for engaging an associated pair of axially aligned through bores 124 at the pair of ends 122 of the top 118 of the associated side wall 116.

(31) The elastic strap 136 of each bungee cord 134 of the apparatus 128 is for only running along the top 18 of a respective side wall 16 of the cargo bed 12 of the pickup truck 14 and over a respective axial boundary 130 of the netting 126 so as to sandwich the netting 126 therebetween, and in so doing, maintaining the netting 126 taunt.

Impressions

(32) It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described, supra.

(33) While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a vented tonneau cover for a cargo bed of a pickup truck, nevertheless, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art, without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

(34) Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.