Folding tonneau cover apparatus

[0001] This application claims priority benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/414,591 filed Oct. 28, 2016, entitled “Folding Tonneau Cover Apparatus”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] A tonneau cover apparatus for covering an open bed or cargo box of a pickup truck or other truck or trailer. Particularly, a tonneau cover apparatus including a folding cover assembly having a plurality of panels that are interconnected in series by a series of hinges in such a manner that the respective panels can pivot with respect to one another, so as to fold up and unfold, and which is detachably fastenable to a support frame assembly including a pair of side rails, each of which is secured to one of two opposing sidewalls of the cargo box.

[0003] Numerous protective cover assemblies for preventing rain, debris and wind from damaging or disrupting the contents of a pickup truck bed or cargo box are currently available. Among these protective cover assemblies are tonneau covers. Some tonneau covers are made of a fabric material, often a fabric coated with a polymeric material, which is fastened to a rigid frame so as to enclose and protect the pickup truck cargo box. Various covering materials are used for the tonneau covers; some are flexible or stretchable, and others are more rigid, and they are secured in various manners to cover the cargo box. Tonneau covers are opened in various manners to allow entry into the cargo box, such as by rolling them up, folding them up, pivoting the cover upward, or removing the cover from the cargo box altogether.

[0004] Typical tonneau covers have support frames including a pair of elongated side rails that are secured to the sidewalls of the cargo box. Known tonneau covers are often secured to the side rails using hook and loop strip fastener components secured to the side rail, typically within a horizontal channel (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,036,521; 4,991,640; 6,752,449 and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2004/0212212 A1). Some tonneau covers are secured to the side rails by latches (see. e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,586).

[0005] The present invention provides improvements that address limitations associated with the prior art.

[0006] The present invention includes a tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck, the perimeter of the cargo box including a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end and having an open position and a closed position. The tonneau cover apparatus will preferably include a support frame assembly for attachment to the cargo box; and a cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels; wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first and second panels, a third panel that is a hinge panel and a fourth panel; each of the plurality of rigid panels having a top surface; wherein the first and second panels have first and second top surfaces, respectively, the hinge panel, has a third top surface, and the fourth panel has a fourth top surface. The plurality of rigid panels are preferably pivotally secure to one another in series such that the first and second panels are pivotally secured to one another by a first flexible hinge, and the hinge panel is pivotally secured to the second panel by a second flexible hinge and pivotally secured to the fourth panel by a third flexible hinge; wherein the first panel can fold over on top of the second panel and, once the first panel is folded over onto the second panel, the first and second panels can fold together over on top of the fourth panel, so that the cover assembly is in a fully folded position; wherein a first top surface of the first panel will be generally parallel to a second top surface of the second panel and to a fourth top surface of the fourth panel when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position; and wherein the cover assembly further includes a perimeter seal secured to an underside of each of the respective rigid panels proximate an outer portion of each of the respective rigid panels, wherein the perimeter seal is a water resistant gasket that forms a continuous border around an underside of the cover assembly so that when the cover assembly is secured to the respective side rails of the support frame and the respective side rails are secured to the respective sidewalls of the pickup truck, the perimeter seal creates a water resistant barrier between the cover assembly and the cargo box. The cover assembly preferably further includes a plurality of elongated support members; wherein each of the plurality of elongated support members is secured to an underside one of the plurality of rigid panels to stiffen the respective rigid panel. The cover assembly preferably further includes a plurality of standoff members secured to the underside of the first panel that engage the fourth top surface of the fourth panel when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position, wherein the respective standoff members separate the underside of the first panel from the fourth top surface of the fourth panel when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position. The first flexible hinge is preferably secured to an underside of the first panel and an underside of the second panel, the second flexible hinge is preferably secured to an underside of the hinge panel and an underside of the second panel, and the third flexible hinge is preferably secured to an underside of the hinge panel and an underside of the fourth panel. In preferred embodiments, the cover assembly will preferably further include a storage strap that can secure the first and second panels to the fourth panel when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position. The storage strap is will preferably be an elastic strap. The support frame assembly preferably includes two opposing side rails each of which can be secured to one of the respective opposing sidewalls when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck; wherein the cover assembly preferably further includes a securing apparatus and the securing apparatus includes a plurality of locking members; wherein each of the plurality of elongated support members preferably includes a channel and each of the respective locking members are preferably at least partially slidably engaged within the channel of one of the elongated support members such that each of the locking members can move from a first position, in which the respective locking member is engaged with one of the respective side rails when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck, to a second position in which the respective locking member is disengaged with one of the respective side rails when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck; wherein the locking members will secure the cover assembly to securing assembly when the plurality of locking members are in the first position and when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck. In preferred embodiments, the locking members are biased toward the first position, preferably biased toward the first position.

[0007] In preferred embodiments, the support frame assembly will include two opposing side rails and each of the respective side rails can be secured to one of the respective opposing sidewalls when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck; wherein the support frame assembly includes a catch member secured to each of the respective side rails and the cover assembly further includes a plurality of hook members, wherein the respective hook members can engage the catch members to secure the cover assembly to the support frame assembly when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck. Each of the plurality of elongated support members preferably includes a channel and each of the hook members are preferably at least partially secured within the channel of one of the plurality of elongated support members. In preferred embodiments, the support frame assembly will include a plurality of containment brackets, each of which is secured to one of the respective side rails; wherein the cover assembly further includes a securing apparatus and the securing apparatus includes a plurality of locking members and each of the respective locking members are at least partially slidably engaged within the channel of one of the elongated support members such that each of the locking member can move from a first position in which the respective locking member is engaged with one of the respective side rails when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck and the locking member is in a second position in which the respective locking member is disengaged with one of the respective side rails when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck; wherein the locking members will secure the cover assembly to securing assembly when the plurality of locking members are in the first position and when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck; wherein each of the plurality of locking members will be at least partially engaged within one of the plurality of containment brackets when the respective locking members are in the first position.

[0008] In preferred embodiments, the support frame assembly will include two opposing side rails and each of the respective side rails can be secured to one of the respective opposing sidewalls when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck; wherein the cover assembly further includes a securing apparatus and the securing apparatus includes a plurality of locking members secured to an underside of the fourth panel and each of the respective locking members can move from a first position in which each of the respective locking members is engaged with one of the respective side rails when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck and a second position in which the respective locking member is disengaged with the respective side rail when the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck; wherein the fourth panel is the panel closest to the forward end and the locking members secured to the fourth panel will secure the fourth panel to the support frame assembly when the plurality of locking members secured to the fourth panel are in the first position and the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck; wherein the fourth panel will be disengaged from the support frame assembly and can be lifted and pivoted toward the hinge panel when the plurality of locking members secured to the fourth panel are in the second position and the tonneau cover apparatus is attached to the pickup truck. The plurality of locking members secured to the fourth panel are preferably biased toward the first position and the cover assembly preferably further includes an actuator that can move the lock members secured to the fourth panel from the first position to the second position. In preferred embodiments, the plurality of elongated support members includes a channel and each of the lock members is at least partially secured within the channel of one of the plurality of elongated support members and are at least partially slidably engaged within the channel of one of the elongated support members such that each of the locking member can slide from the first position to the second position. In preferred embodiments, the actuator includes a turn knob respectively interconnected to each of the respective lock members secured to the fourth panel by a pair of elongated connecting members that can move the respective locking members from the first position to the second position so as to disengage the lock members secured to the fourth panel from the support frame assembly. In further preferred embodiments, the turn knob is accessible from above the top surface of the fourth panel when the fourth panel is secured to the support frame assembly. In preferred embodiments, the actuator includes a remote electronic actuating device that can move the respective locking members from the first position to the second position so as to disengage the respective lock members secured to the fourth panel from the support frame assembly.

[0009] In preferred embodiments, the cover assembly includes a cab panel positioned closest to the forward end and secured to the fourth panel by a fourth flexible hinge. In these embodiments, it will be preferred that the first flexible hinge is secured to an underside of the first panel and an underside of the second panel, the second flexible hinge is secured to an underside of the hinge panel and an underside of the second panel, the third flexible hinge is secured to an underside of the hinge panel and an underside of the fourth panel and the fourth flexible hinge is secured to an underside of the fourth panel and an underside of the cab panel; the cover assembly further includes a storage strap that can secure the first and second panels to the fourth panel when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position; the storage strap is an elastic strap; when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position, and the first and second panels are secured to the fourth panel, the fully folded cover can pivot with respect to the cab panel to an upright position in which the first, second and fourth panels are pivoted generally upward with respect to the cab panel so that the first, second and fourth panels rest in a generally vertical position upon the cab panel when the cab panel is in a generally horizontal orientation. In preferred embodiments, the cover assembly further includes a securing strap that can secure the first and second panels to the pickup truck when the first and second panels are secured to the fourth panel and the tonneau cover is attached to the pickup truck in a manner in which the first, second and fourth panels rest in a generally vertical position upon the cab panel.

[0010] In further preferred embodiments, the cover assembly further includes a hinge guard member underlying one of the plurality of flexible hinges; wherein the hinge guard is secured to an underside of one of the rigid panels to provide underlying support proximate the respective flexible hinge; the rigid panels are preferably made of an aluminum alloy material and have a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.200 inches, preferably about 0.063 inches. In further preferred embodiments, the top surface of each of the rigid panels is coated with a polyester paint; the underside of each of the rigid panels is coated with an epoxy coating; the plurality of flexible hinges are made from a coated woven fabric material; preferably from a polyvinyl chloride coated woven polyester fabric material; wherein the plurality of flexible hinges include coated an adhesive tape material that is bonded to the coated woven fabric material; wherein the adhesive tape material secures each of the respective flexible hinges to the undersides of the respective rigid panels.

[0011] In preferred embodiments, the cover assembly will preferably include a locking member actuating cord interconnected with a plurality of the respective locking members secured to the underside of first rigid panel and also with a second rigid panel which is secured to the first rigid panel by a flexible hinge, wherein pivoting the second rigid panel with respect to the first rigid panel will cause the actuating cord to draw the respective locking members from the first position to the second position; wherein the first rigid panel is preferably the second panel and the second rigid panel is preferably the first panel.

[0012] In preferred embodiments, the plurality of elongated support members includes two first panel support members secured to the underside of the first panel; wherein each of the respective first panel support members include a channel within which at least a portion of one of the respective standoff members is secured; wherein the plurality of standoff members include two standoff members secured within each of the first panel support members; wherein each of the respective standoff members is secured at least partially within the channel within the respective first panel support member.

[0013] In preferred embodiments, the third top surface of the hinge panel will generally reside at an angle of from about 30 to about 150 degrees with respect to the forth top surface when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position; wherein the third top surface of the hinge panel will preferably generally reside at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the forth top surface when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position.

[0014] In preferred embodiments, the plurality of elongated support members includes at least one first panel support member secured to the underside of the first panel, at least one second panel support member secured to the underside of the second panel, at least one third panel support member secured to the underside of the third panel, and at least one fourth panel support member secured to the underside of the fourth panel; wherein each of the respective elongated support members is downwardly curved such that each of the respective rigid panels is at least partially downwardly concave; wherein, in preferred embodiments each of the respective elongated support members has an upper surface that is curved along at least a portion of a length of the elongated support member such that when the upper surface of each of the respective support members is secured to an underside of each of the respective rigid panels, a top surface of each of the respective rigid panels is curved downwardly so as to be at least partially downwardly concave along a width of each of the respective rigid panels, and each of the rigid panels preferably has a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.200 inches and the flexible hinge is made from a fiber reinforced polymeric material that can withstand deformation without breaking or cracking, and each of the respective rigid support members preferably have first and second ends and each of the respective rigid support members is bent so that it curves through an arc as the support member passes from one end to the other end; wherein when the respective rigid panels are secured to the respective rigid support members, the rigid panels are sufficiently bent to allow water to run off of the top surface of each of the respective rigid panels under the force of gravity.

[0015] In preferred embodiments, the flexible hinge is made of a flexible material constructed out of a material that can withstand deformation without failure due to cracking or breakage that is selected from the group consisting of a laminated polymeric material, a fiber reinforced polymeric material, an elastomeric material, a woven material and a material that is in part a laminated woven material and in part a laminated material; the flexible hinge is preferably secured to a first underside of the first panel and to a second underside of the second panel with an adhesive material; wherein the flexible hinge includes first and second adhesive backed portions respectively secured to a first underside of the first panel and to a second underside of the second panel.

[0016] In preferred embodiments, the flexible hinge is made at least in part from a moisture resistant, flexible sheet material that includes a laminated woven fabric material; preferably a polyvinyl chloride coated woven polyester fabric material.

[0017] In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a tonneau cover apparatus preferably including a support frame assembly for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame assembly having two opposing side rails, wherein each of the respective side rails can be secured to one of the respective opposing sidewalls; and a cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels; wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first and second panels; the first and second panels being flexibly secured to one another by a flexible hinge; each of the rigid panels having a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.200 inches and the flexible hinge is made from a fiber reinforced polymeric material that can withstand deformation without breaking or cracking; and wherein the cover assembly includes a plurality of elongated support members; wherein each of the plurality of elongated support members is secured to an underside of one of the plurality of rigid panels to stiffen the respective rigid panel; wherein at least one of the respective elongated support members has an upper surface that is curved along at least a portion of a length of the elongated support member such that, when the upper surface of the respective elongated support member is secured to an underside of one of the respective rigid panels, a top surface the respective rigid panel is curved along at least a portion of a width of the respective rigid panel; and wherein each of the respective elongated support members has first and second ends and the upper surface of each of the respective elongated support members is at least partially curved between the first and second ends; wherein, when certain of the respective rigid panels are secured to such elongated support members, the top surfaces of the certain respective rigid panels are at least partially downwardly curved so that water on the respective top surface can run off of the top surface under the force of gravity; and wherein the cover assembly further includes a securing apparatus, wherein the securing apparatus includes a locking member secured to one of the plurality of rigid panels; wherein the locking member is engageable with one of the respective side rails, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box, so as to engage the cover assembly with the support frame assembly and the cargo box; wherein the locking member is prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail when the locking member is in a first position, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box; wherein the locking member can be moved from the first position to a second position; wherein the locking member can disengage from the respective side rail, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box and the locking member is in the second position; and wherein the cover assembly includes a plurality of locking members secured to a plurality of rigid panels; wherein each locking member is biased toward the first position; and wherein the flexible hinge is secured to a first underside of the first panel and to a second underside of the second panel with an adhesive material and the flexible hinge is made of a flexible material constructed out of a material that can withstand deformation without failure due to cracking or breakage that is selected from the group consisting of a laminated polymeric material, a fiber reinforced polymeric material, an elastomeric material, a woven material and a material that is in part a laminated woven material and in part a laminated material. In preferred embodiments, the flexible hinge is preferably secured to a first underside of the first panel and to a second underside of the second panel with an adhesive material and the flexible hinge preferably includes first and second adhesive backed portions respectively secured to a first underside of the first panel and to a second underside of the second panel.

[0018] In further preferred embodiments, the tonneau cover apparatus will include a support frame assembly for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame assembly having two opposing side rails, wherein each of the respective side rails can be secured to one of the respective opposing sidewalls; and a cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels; wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first and second panels; the first and second panels being flexibly secured to one another by a flexible hinge; and wherein the cover assembly includes a plurality of elongated support members; wherein each of the plurality of elongated support members is secured to an underside of one of the plurality of rigid panels to stiffen the respective panel; wherein each of the respective elongated support members has a upper surface that is curved along at least a portion of a length of the elongated support member such that, when the upper surface of each of the respective support members is secured to an underside of each of the respective rigid panels, each of the respective rigid panels is curved along at least a portion of a width of each of the respective rigid panels; preferably each of the rigid panels will have a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.200 inches and the flexible hinge will be made from a fiber reinforced polymeric material that can withstand deformation without breaking or cracking. The cover assembly will preferably include a plurality of elongated support members; wherein each of the plurality of elongated support members is secured to an underside of one of the plurality of rigid panels to stiffen the respective panel; wherein each of the respective elongated support members has an upper surface that is curved along at least a portion of a length of the elongated support member such that when the upper surface of each of the respective elongated support members is secured to an underside of each of the respective rigid panels, at least a portion of a top surface of each of the respective rigid panels is curved downwardly so as to be at least partially downwardly concave along a width of each of the respective rigid panels. In preferred embodiments, the cover assembly will further include a securing apparatus, wherein the securing apparatus includes a locking member secured to one of the plurality of rigid panels; wherein the locking member is engageable with one of the respective side rails, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box, so as to engage the cover assembly with the support frame assembly and the cargo box; wherein the locking member is prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail when the locking member is in a first position, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box; wherein the locking member can be moved from the first position to a second position; wherein the locking member can disengage from the respective side rail, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box and the locking member is in the second position.

[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the tonneau cover apparatus will preferably include a support frame assembly for attachment to the cargo box; and a cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels; wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first and second panels; the first and second panels being flexibly secured to one another by a flexible hinge; wherein a top surface of each of the respective rigid panels is curved downwardly so as to be at least partially downwardly concave along a width of the respective rigid panels; wherein the support frame assembly preferably includes two opposing side rails, wherein each of the respective side rails are secured to one of the respective opposing sidewalls and the cover assembly further includes a securing apparatus, wherein the securing apparatus includes a locking member secured to one of the plurality of rigid panels; wherein the locking member is engageable with one of the respective side rails, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box, so as to engage the cover assembly with the support frame assembly and the cargo box; wherein the locking member is prevented from disengaging from the respective side rail when the locking member is in a first position, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box; wherein the locking member can be moved from the first position to a second position; wherein the locking member can disengage from the respective side rail, when the respective side rail is secured to the cargo box and the locking member is in the second position; the cover assembly preferably includes a plurality of elongated support members; wherein each of the plurality of elongated support members is secured to an underside of one of the plurality of rigid panels to stiffen the respective panel; wherein each of the respective support members has an upper surface that is curved along at least a portion of a length of the elongated support member such that when the upper surface of each of the respective elongated support members is secured to an underside of each of the respective rigid panels, at least a portion of a top surface of each of the respective rigid panels is curved downwardly so as to be at least partially downwardly concave along a width of each of the respective rigid panels; wherein each of the rigid panels preferably having a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.200 inches and the flexible hinge is made from a fiber reinforced polymeric material that can withstand deformation without breaking or cracking and each of the respective elongated support members preferably has first and second ends and each of the respective elongated support members is bent so that it curves through an arc as the elongated support member passes from one end to the other end; wherein when the respective rigid panels are secured to the respective elongated support members, the rigid panels are bent so that gravity can cause water to run off of a top surface of each of the respective rigid panels; wherein the flexible hinge is preferably made of a flexible material constructed out of a material that can withstand deformation without failure due to cracking or breakage that is selected from the group consisting of a laminated polymeric material, a fiber reinforced polymeric material, an elastomeric material, a woven material and a material that is in part a laminated woven material and in part a laminated material. The flexible hinge is preferably secured to a first underside of the first panel and to a second underside of the second panel with an adhesive material and preferably includes first and second adhesive backed portions respectively secured to a first underside of the first panel and to a second underside of the second panel. Wherein the cargo box preferably has a length and the plurality of rigid panels further include a third rigid panel and a fourth rigid panel; wherein the plurality of rigid panels are secured to one another in series by a series of flexible hinges each of which secures respective adjacent rigid panels to one another; wherein a length of each of the plurality of rigid panels is considerably less than the length of the cargo box; and one of the plurality of rigid panels is a hinge panel that has a hinge panel length that is no greater than one-third of an average length of the other rigid panels; and wherein the third rigid panel is a hinge panel that has a hinge panel length that is no greater than one-third of an average length of the other rigid panels; wherein the cover assembly can fold up so that the first, second and fourth rigid panels are oriented such that a top surface of each of the first, second and fourth panels is parallel to a top surface of each of the others and a top surface of the hinge panel is oriented at a 90 degree angle to the top surfaces of each of the other panels.

[0020] In further preferred embodiments, the flexible hinge will be made at least in part from a moisture resistant, flexible sheet material that includes a laminated woven fabric material and the cover assembly will further include a cab panel positioned closest to the forward end and secured to the fourth panel by a fourth flexible hinge; wherein the first flexible hinge is secured to an underside of the first panel and an underside of the second panel, the second flexible hinge is secured to an underside of the hinge panel and an underside of the second panel, the third flexible hinge is secured to an underside of the hinge panel and an underside of the fourth panel and the fourth flexible hinge is secured to an underside of the fourth panel and an underside of the cab panel. In further preferred embodiments, the cover assembly will preferably include a storage strap that can secure the first and second panels to the fourth panel when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position; preferably an elastic strap. In further preferred embodiments, when the cover assembly is in the fully folded position, and the first and second panels are secured to the fourth panel, the fully folded cover can pivot with respect to the cab panel to an upright position in which the first, second and fourth panels are pivoted generally upward with respect to the cab panel so that the first, second and fourth panels rest in a generally vertical position upon the cab panel when the cab panel is in a generally horizontal orientation. In such an embodiment, the cover assembly will preferably include a securing strap that can secure the first and second panels to the pickup truck when the first and second panels are secured to the fourth panel and the tonneau cover is attached to the pickup truck in a manner in which the first, second and fourth panels rest in a generally vertical position upon the cab panel; wherein the storage strap is preferably an elastic strap. In a further preferred embodiment, the cover assembly will preferably further include a hinge guard member underlying one of the plurality of flexible hinges; wherein the hinge guard is secured to an underside of one of the rigid panels to provide underlying support proximate the respective flexible hinge.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, a method of making a tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck is provided, wherein the perimeter of the cargo box includes a forward end, two opposing sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate being positioned rearward of the forward end and having an open position and a closed position, and the method includes the steps of: providing a cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels; wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first and second panels; the first and second panels being flexibly secured to one another by a flexible hinge; the cover assembly including a plurality of elongated support members; wherein the plurality of elongated support members can be secured to an underside of one of the plurality of rigid panels to stiffen the respective rigid panel; wherein each of the respective elongated support members has a upper surface that is curved along a length of the elongated support member such that when the upper surface of each of the respective elongated support members is secured to an underside of one of the respective rigid panels, a top surface of the respective rigid panel will be curved along at least a portion of a width of the respective rigid panels; and securing the respective elongated support members to the respective rigid panels so that the rigid panels are sufficiently bent for water to run off of a top surface of each of the respective rigid panels under the force of gravity when the respective rigid panels are engaged with the support frame assembly. Wherein each of the respective elongated support members preferably has first and second ends and each of the respective elongated support members is curved so that it curves through an arc as the support member passes from one end to the other end and wherein the upper surface each of the respective elongated support members is preferably curved so that the end portions of the upper surface are a deflection distance lower than a center portion of the upper surface, and the deflection distance is from about 1/64 inch and about ½ inch. In further preferred embodiments, the upper surface is curved so that the end portions of the upper surface are a deflection distance lower than the center portion of the upper surface, and the deflection distance is about ⅛ inch. The method preferably further provides a support frame assembly for attachment to the cargo box, the support frame assembly having two opposing side rails, wherein each of the respective side rails is secured to one of the respective opposing sidewalls; and wherein the step of securing includes using adhesive material to secure the respective elongated support members to the underside of the respective rigid panels; wherein each of the rigid panels have a top surface and the top surface of each of the respective rigid panels is curved so that end portions of the top surface are a deflection distance lower than a center portion of the respective top surface, wherein the deflection distance is from about 1/64 inch and about ½ inch.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, a method of making a tonneau cover apparatus for removable attachment about a top of a perimeter of a cargo box of a pickup truck is provided, wherein the method includes the steps of: providing a cover assembly including a plurality of rigid panels; wherein the plurality of rigid panels includes first and second panels; the first and second panels being flexibly secured to one another by a flexible hinge; the cover assembly including a plurality of elongated support members; wherein the plurality of elongated support members are secured to an underside of one of the plurality of rigid panels to stiffen the respective rigid panel; and wherein the cover assembly further includes a perimeter seal secured to the underside of each of the respective rigid panels proximate an outer portion of each of the respective rigid panels; providing a support frame assembly including a plurality of side rails for attachment to the sidewalls of the cargo box; securing the support frame assembly to the perimeter of the cargo box; and securing the cover assembly to the support frame assembly, wherein the perimeter seal is a water resistant gasket that forms a continuous border around an underside of the cover assembly so that when the cover assembly is secured to the respective side rails of the support frame and the respective side rails are secured to the respective sidewalls of the pickup truck, the perimeter seal creates a water resistant barrier between the cover assembly and the cargo box.

[0023] These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the present invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0166] Herein, reference is made either to the “driver's side” or “passenger side” or to the “front” or to the “rear” of the folding tonneau cover apparatus or portions thereof in a manner that is consistent with the orientation of the folding tonneau cover apparatus when it is secured to a vehicle as envisioned, so that the “rear” of a folding tonneau cover apparatus or portion thereof will be consistent with what is seen when one is looking at the rear of such a vehicle when the folding tonneau cover apparatus or portion(s) thereof are attached to such a vehicle as herein envisioned, or such portion thereof which is closer to the rear. The “driver's side” refers to the side corresponding to the side of the vehicle typically used by the driver to operate the vehicle, and the “passenger side” is opposite the “driver's side”. For clarity, the “length” of the folding tonneau cover apparatus, the folding cover assembly, the hinges, and the panels described herein, refers to the “front” to “rear” direction, since the pickup truck and the cargo box are typically longer in that direction. Similarly, “width” of the folding tonneau cover apparatus, the folding cover assembly, the hinges, and the panels described herein, refers to the “driver's side” to “passenger side” direction, since the pickup truck and the cargo box are typically shorter in that direction. However, these terminologies of convenience are not intended to be limiting; the folding tonneau cover apparatus could be shorter in the “length” direction than in the “width” direction, for example. For other items such as support bows and sidebars, “length” has the normal meaning, referring to the longer dimension or to the dimension along an extruded shape, for example; any potential confusion in terminology can be eliminated by examination of the various Figures in the accompanying drawings.

[0167] Referring now to the drawings, the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 is attachable to sidewalls 6a, 6b of a cargo box 5, such as the cargo box of a truck or pickup truck 2. In FIG. 1, folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 is shown in a typical application covering the cargo box 5 of a pickup truck 2. The pickup truck 2 and the cargo box 5 and the sidewalls 6a and 6b and the front wall 6c at the forward end of the cargo box 5 and the tailgate 6d at the rear end of the cargo box 5 are not a part of the present invention, but are shown as environment to illustrate a typical application and function of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 in covering a cargo box 5, which has a length 7a and a width 7b. The perimeter of the cargo box includes the forward end or front wall 6c, the opposing sidewalls 6a and 6b, and the rearward end or tailgate 6d. As further illustrated in FIGS. 2A-3B, the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 includes a folding tonneau cover assembly, tonneau cover assembly or cover assembly 30 and a support frame assembly 18, including side rails or rails 20a and 20b. In preferred embodiments, side rails 20a and 20b are secured to sidewalls 6a and 6b with clamps 14. In preferred embodiments, the folding cover assembly 30 is configured to be opened to an open position and closed to a closed position, and easily removed and reinstalled by a driver or other operator 8 (FIG. 12), as needed. The side rails 20a and 20b are constructed and arranged to facilitate securement of the folding cover assembly 30 to the side rails 20a and 20b. In some embodiments, the side rails 20a and 20b have a side rail lip 24 and a side rail engagement portion 22a. In this example, there are eight clamps 14 arranged to hold the side rails 20a and 20b to the sidewalls 6a, 6b of the pickup truck 2, but other numbers of clamps 14 can be used. In some embodiments, the clamps include an outer member 16a, an inner member 16b, a clamp engagement portion 16c, and a fastener assembly 16d; the fastener assembly can, for example, include a bolt 16e, a washer 16f and a nut 16g as illustrated.

[0168] Referring again to FIGS. 2A-2C, the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 is shown; in these views, the truck 2 and the cargo box 5 are not shown. FIG. 2A shows a top view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 of FIG. 1. The top 32a of the folding cover assembly 30 is shown. The folding cover assembly 30 includes panels 36; in this example, panels 36 include rear panel 36a, middle panel 36b, front panel 36c, and spacer panel or hinge panel 36d. For ease of discussion, panels 36 are specifically referenced herein as 36a-36d, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 36. The folding cover assembly 30 includes a plurality of panels 36, such as two to 8 panels 36; for example, 6 panels 36 could be used, including 4 “longer” panels (similar to panels 36a-36c shown herein) and 2 “shorter” panels (similar to panels 36d shown herein). While a smaller or a larger number of panels 36 can be used, we have found that the configuration illustrated herein provides a good trade-off of convenient folded configuration vs. complexity. As shown in FIG. 2A, and also as further described herein with respect to FIGS. 19A-19E, the length 39 of each of the panels 36a-36d is indicated as 39a-39d, respectively. In this example, the spacer panel 36d has a substantially smaller length 39d than the other panels, as will be further described herein. The length 39d of the spacer panel 36d is preferably no greater than about one-third of the length 39a-39c of the other panels 36a-36c. Panels 36a-36d can have similar length 39, or the length of some or all of panels 36a-36d can differ. The width 40 of each of the panels 36a-36d is indicated as 40a-40d, respectively. Panels 36a-36d can have the same width 40, or the width of some or all of panels 36a-36d can differ. The side angle 42 of each of the panels 36a-36d is indicated as 42a-42d, respectively. Panels 36a-36d can have the same side angle 42, or the side angle 42 of some or all of panels 36a-36d can differ. Alternative configurations of folding tonneau covers 30 appropriate for covering the cargo box 5 of various models of pickup truck 2 are further described below. Each panel 36 has a top surface 37 and a bottom surface or underside 38; panel 36a has a top surface 37a and a bottom surface or underside 38a, panel 36b has a top surface 37b and a bottom surface or underside 38b, panel 36c has a top surface 37c and a bottom surface or underside 38c, panel 36d has a top surface 37d and a bottom surface or underside 38d.

[0169] FIG. 2B shows a bottom view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10. Visible in this view are hinges or flexible hinges 44, which are situated between adjacent panels 36 and adjoin adjacent panels 36. For ease of discussion, hinges 44 are specifically referenced herein as 44a-44c, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 44. Specifically, situated between the rear panel 36a and the middle panel 36b is hinge 44a. Similarly, situated between the middle panel 36b and the spacer panel 36d is hinge 44b, and situated between the spacer panel 36d and the front panel 36c is hinge 44c. Hinges 44 allow the folding cover assembly 30 to be folded up and will be more fully described below. Optional hinge guards 48 are shown; hinge guards 48 provide additional support to the hinges 44 when the folding cover assembly 30 is unfolded and in place covering the cargo box 5. Hinge guards 48 also provide protection against slicing through the hinges 44; further description of the hinge guards 48 is provided below. Support bows 50 are attached to the panels 36 to provide additional support and rigidity to the panels 36, and also provide a structure for mounting of various other components as described in detail later herein. For ease of discussion, support bows 50 are specifically referenced herein as 50a-50g, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 50. The folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 is removably secured to the support frame assembly 18 by securing apparatus 51a. Preferably, securing apparatus 51a includes at least one locking member 51b which is engageable and disengageable from the support frame assembly 18. Preferably, the locking member 51b includes latches 52 which are located at the support bows as shown and secure the folding cover assembly 30 to the side rails 20a and 20b. Release cords 54 are attached to the latches 52. For ease of discussion, support bows latches 52 are specifically referenced herein as 52a-52j, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 52. (Similarly, latches included in other embodiments described herein are non-specifically or collectively referenced as 152, 252, 352, and specifically referenced herein as 152a, 252a, 352a, etc., as indicated.) Also for ease of discussion, release cords 54 are specifically referenced herein as 54a-54e, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 54. The release cords 54 pass through cord guides 56 which are attached to support bows 50 as shown. The cord guides are non-specifically or collectively referenced herein as 56, but cord guides 56a-56d are specifically referenced herein to facilitate the detailed description herein. Standoffs 58 are shown, and will be described in further detail below. Sidebars 59 are attached to panels 36a, 36b, and 36c, near each side of each panel 36 to further support the panels 36. Perimeter seal 34 is located on the bottom 32b of the folding cover assembly 30 and is arranged to seal against top of the perimeter of the cargo box 5 at the sidewalls 6a and 6b and the front wall 6c and the tailgate 6d of the cargo box 5 as shown; some portions of perimeter seal 34 are behind side rails 20a and 20b and not visible FIG. 2B. The perimeter seal 34 is further described herein. The support bows or transverse frame members or channels 50 provide additional support for the panels 36. In this embodiment, the panels each have two support bows 50, one located near each of the front and rear ends of each panel 36, except for the spacer panel 36d, which has only a single support bow 50. In this embodiment, there are latches 52 mounted in pairs, one of each pair mounted near each end of each of the support bows 50a, 50c, 50e, 50f, and 50g as shown. As further described below, the latches 52 engage the side rails 20a and 20b to secure the folding cover assembly 30, and can slide a short distance towards or away from the side rails 20a and 20b to engage or release the folding cover assembly 30 or selected panels 36 or portions thereof from the side rails 20a and 20b as further described below. Note that the support bows 50 near the front end of the rear panel 36a and the front end of the middle panel 36b do not have associated latches 52 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, there are five latch release cords or release cords or cords 54, each of which are connected to opposing pairs of latches 52 which secure the panels 36 to the side rails 20a and 20b. The release cords 54 preferably pass through cord guides 56 which are mounted to the support bows 50; the release cords 54 can slide within the cord guides 56. The release cords 54 generally extend from the latches 52 along the support bows 50, except that some of the release cords 54 pass through cord guides 56 which are mounted to an adjacent support bow 50 on an adjacent panel 36, forming a “V” or “elongated V” configuration extending between adjacent support bows 50, as shown. This configuration in which a release cord 54 extends between adjacent support bows 50 on adjacent panels 36 allows the lifting and rotation of one panel 36 to cause the release of latches 52 on an adjacent panel 36; in this way, lifting and rotating the rear panel 36a can release latches 52 on the middle panel 36b, for example, and lifting and rotating the middle panel 36b can release latches 52 on the spacer panel 36d, for example, as further described below. In this way, manual actuation of each pair of latches 52 by a driver or operator is not needed, facilitating the easy opening of the folding cover assembly 30. Also seen on FIG. 2B are optional hinge guards 48; the optional hinge guards 48 are preferably attached to the support bow 50 adjacent to and to the rear of the hinges 44. The hinge guards 48 are shown attached to the support bows 50b, 50d, and 50e. The hinge guards 48 provide support for the hinges 44, such as to support weight or pressure applied to the hinges 44, the panels 36, or other portions of the folding cover assembly 30. The hinge guards 48 can also provide protection against entry into the cargo box 5 by cutting through a hinge 44. The preferred hinge guards 48 are further described below.

[0170] FIG. 2C shows a side view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10, viewed from the driver's side. As illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the clamps 14 secure the side rails 20a and 20b to the sidewalls 6a and 6b of the cargo box 5.

[0171] FIGS. 2D and 2E further illustrate the structure and function of the containment bracket 92 (in this example, specifically containment bracket 92a) which contains the engaging portion 53b of the latch 52. In FIG. 2E, the engaging portion 53b is engaged under the side rail 20a and is contained by the containment bracket 92a so that it cannot slide frontwards or rearwards along the side rail 20a. The spring 68 is in the extended configuration, urging the latch slide 53 outwards towards the side rail 20a. In FIG. 2D, the release cord 54e has been pulled, retracting the latch slide 53 and compressing the spring 68, and disengaging the engaging portion 53b from the side rail 20a and the containment bracket 92a, releasing the latch 52.

[0172] Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the release cord 54a near the rear end of the rear panel 36a passes through four cord guides 56; these four cord guides 56, together with the two latches 52 to which the ends of the release cord 54a is attached, define five contiguous cord segments 60a through 60e (FIG. 3A). FIG. 3B is an enlarged partial section view of the driver's side end portion of the support bow 50a as indicated on FIG. 3A. The cord guides 56 are preferably molded products made of a strong polymer such as Nylon and may be reinforced with fiberglass or other embedded material to strengthen the polymer. In alternate embodiments, the cord guides 56 can made of polymeric, metallic or ceramic materials using three-D printing methods or three-D etching methods or other additive or subtractive machining process. A standoff 58 can be seen in FIG. 3A, and will be described in more detail later.

[0173] As seen in FIG. 3B, the latch 52 includes latch slide 53 having a engaging portion 53b which extends forward to engage the lip 24 of the side rail 20a, so as to secure the respective panel 30 to the side rail 20a. The latch slide 53 preferably includes a stiff polymer, composite, or metal, although other materials and combinations can be used. Preferably, the latch slide 53 includes fiberglass-reinforced nylon. The latch slide 53 is biased by a biasing member or spring 68 towards the side rail 20a so that the engaging portion 53b engages the side rail 20a to form a secured configuration in which the respective panel 30 is restricted from being lifted up from the cargo box 5; in this example, the spring 68 is a compression spring, but an extension spring, or an elastic element, or other known elements could alternatively be used to bias the latch slide 53 towards the side rail 20a so that the engaging portion 53b engages the side rail 20a so that the latch 52 is in the secured configuration. In this embodiment, the spring 68 is held between the latch slide 53 and a spring retainer 70. In this example, the spring retainer 70 includes square nuts 72a and a retainer bolt 72b; in assembly, the spring retainer 70 can be inserted into the support bow 50a and by rotating the retainer bolt 72b with respect to the square nuts 72a, the upper end of the retainer bolt 72b presses against the bow top portion 74a of the support bow 50a while the square nuts press against the bow bottom portion 74b of the support bow 50a, fixing the spring retainer 70 in the desired location in the support bow 50a. The side rails 20a and 20b preferably include extruded metal, and have an side rail engagement portion 22a (FIG. 3B), arranged to approximate a portion of the sidewall 6a, 6b of the pickup truck 2. A clamp 14 can be seen in detail in FIG. 3B. Clamps 14 preferably include aluminum, although other metals or alloys or polymers or other composite materials can be used. Clamps 14 as illustrated have an outer member 16a and an inner member 16b which are tightened towards each other and held as an assembly on the sidewall 6a by a fastener assembly 16d which typically includes a bolt 16e, a washer 16f, and a nut 16g. Preferably, inner member 16b has a clamp engagement portion 16c which, together with side rail engagement portion 22a of side rail 20a, aids in securing the clamps 14 in place on the side rail 20a. Preferably, the clamps 14 are arranged and tightened to secure the side rail 20a to the sidewall 6a, with a sidewall gasket 76 arranged between the side rail 20a and the sidewall 6a as illustrated. A bow end cap 78 is located at the end of the support bow 50a. A release cord 54 and a cord guide 56 are shown, and will be described in further detail herein. In the present example, the side rail engagement portion 22a is a generally vertically-oriented portion which configured to be located adjacent a similarly vertically-oriented portion of the sidewall 6a, 6b. In the example of FIG. 3B, a portion of the sidewall 6a of a cargo box 5 of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck is illustrated; however, other sidewalls of other cargo boxes of other pickup trucks and the like can be accommodated, by incorporating a side rail engagement portion 22a along the length of the side rails 20a and 20b that are appropriately configured and oriented. In this example, the cargo box 5 of the pickup truck 2 includes a sidewall cap 6e, but other cargo boxes 5 lack a sidewall cap. Preferably, the side rail engagement portion 22a has a side rail engagement feature 22b, such as ridges, knurling, surface patterns or textures, or other features which aid in securing the clamps 14. Preferably, a sidewall gasket 22c is located between the side rail engagement portion 22a and the sidewall 6a; the sidewall gasket 22c can provide protection against damage to the sidewall 6a by abrasion against the side rail 20a. The sidewall gasket 22c can provide leak resistance to prevent water, dust, or other debris from passing into the cargo box 5 along the side rail engagement portion 22a. The side rail 20a has a flange or side rail lip 24 along the length of the side rail 20a. The side rail lip 24 provides support for the folding cover assembly 30. In addition, the side rail lip 24 provides a feature for engagement of the engaging portion 53b of the latches 52. The driver's side portion of the support bow 50a is shown in this figure; the other end of the support bow 50a (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, with a latch 52 engaging side rail 20b, and side rail 20b being attached to sidewall 6b in a similar manner.

[0174] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when it is desired to release the latches 52 at the rear end of the rear panel 36a, the release cord 54a can be pulled in segment 60b, 60c, or 60d, which will retract the latches 52 against the force of the biasing member or spring 68. Typically, the release cord 54a will be pulled in segment 60b as illustrated, by a driver (not shown) who has walked to the rear of the cargo box 5 and has opened the tailgate 6d and reaches in to pull the release cord 54a. The release cord 54a can alternatively be pulled in segment 60c or segment 60d, however, if that is more convenient. When the release cord 54a is pulled, the engaging portion 53b of the latch 52 is retracted away from the lip 24 of the side rail 20a as shown in FIG. 4B, releasing the latch 52 from the side rail 20a and allowing the rear portion of the rear panel 36a to be lifted up from the side rail 20a. The cord guides 56 adjacent to the latches 52 help to maintain alignment of the ends of the release cord 54a so that the latches 52 are retracted in alignment with the support bow 50a, to avoid excessive friction, wear and potential binding. The driver's side portion of the support bow 50a is shown in this figure; the other end of the support bow 50a (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, and when the release cord 54a is pulled, the latches 52 at both ends of the support bow 50a are retracted, so that the rear end of the rear panel 36a can be lifted up from both side rails 20a and 20b.

[0175] Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5E, hinges 44,144, 244, 344 include flexible sheet material or flexible material 80, 180, 280, 380 which is attached to each of the adjacent panels 36, 136, 236, 336 (specifically, respective adjacent panels of 36a-36d, 136a-136d, 236a-236d, 336a-336d as described herein). Flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380 is moisture resistant to avoid leakage into the cargo box 5. Flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380 can include fabric, or a polymeric layer, and may have a reinforcing fiber which can be separate fibers, long (generally continuous) or short (generally discrete) fibers, fibrous yarns, or a web material, or woven material, single-axis or biaxial oriented fibers, or a braid or a felt of fibers, for example. For example, flexible material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 can be a vinyl material, preferably a polyvinyl chloride or PVC covered fabric, a fiber-reinforced rubber or other flexible polymeric material, or a fabric having a water-resistant coating or impregnation. In additional examples, the flexible material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 can be cloth-inserted EPDM rubber, cloth-inserted neoprene rubber, nylon cloth reinforced nitrile rubber, fiberglass-reinforced silicone rubber, polyester-reinforced neoprene sheet, nylon-reinforced neoprene sheet, and other materials available from multiple sources; information regarding example materials is available from www.rubbersheetroll.com and from www.mscdirect.com; note that not all materials listed on those web sites would be preferred for this application. A variety of materials could be used as flexible hinge material, such as neoprene, EPDM, flexible PVC, nitrile, natural rubber, flexible thermoplastics, silicone, latex, Hypalon rubber, butyl rubber, recycled rubber, Viton rubber, Santoprene rubber, Skirtboard rubber, SBR rubber, and so forth, that can be used in conjunction with a reinforcing fiber such as EPDM, Nylon, polyester, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aramid fibers, boron fibers, metal fibers, cellulose, wood-derived fibers, and so forth can be used for the flexible hinge material 80. The hinge or flexible hinge 44 is preferably made of a flexible material that can withstand deformation without failure due to cracking or breakage and that is selected from the group consisting of a laminated polymeric material, a fiber-reinforced polymeric material, an elastomeric material, a woven material and a laminated material that is includes a woven material and a moisture-resistant polymeric material. Preferably, a hinge material 80 is chosen that can be heat bonded to the thermal adhesive tape 84a such as 3M 5933 from 3M, St. Paul, Minn. described herein. Other considerations in choosing an acceptable flexible hinge material 80 are durability over time and resistance to environmental factors such as precipitation, sunlight, temperature ranges, and physical stresses such as impacts and abrasions. Preferably, the flexible material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 is polyester fiber reinforced polymeric material. More preferably, flexible material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 is PVC-coated woven polyester material such as part number 90749 available from Lakeview Industries, Chaska, Minn.

[0176] Attachment of the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 to the panels 36 is preferably by an adhesive 82a, 182a, 282a, 382a, 482a which may include a layer or coating of adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape 84a, 184a, 284a, 384a, 482a for example. Alternatively, a contact adhesive, or a thermal or hot-melt or chemically activated adhesive, or a mechanical attachment, or a combination, can be used to attach the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 to the panels 36, 136, 236, 336, 436. Double-sided adhesive tape 84a, 184a, 284a, 384a can include an acrylic foam material 86a, 186a, 286a, 386a with adhesive layer 86b, 186b, 286b, 386b arranged on one side of the acrylic foam material 86a, 186a, 286a, 386a, and adhesive layer 86c, 186c, 286c, 386c arranged on the other side of the acrylic foam material 86a, 186a, 286a, 386a, for example. Preferably, the adhesive 82a, 182a, 282a, 382a includes a double-sided adhesive tape 84a, 184a, 284a, 384a such as 3M 5933 from 3M, St. Paul, Minn. (“thermal adhesive tape”), wherein the double-sided adhesive tape 84a, 184a, 284a, 384a is an acrylic foam tape having an acrylic foam material 86a, 186a, 286a, 386a and an adhesive layer 86b, 186b, 286b, 386b which includes heat-activated adhesive and an adhesive layer 86c, 186c, 286c, 386c which includes pressure-sensitive adhesive which may be protected by a release strip (not shown) until it is desired to activate the pressure-sensitive adhesive, adhesive layer 86c, 186c, 286c, 386c. Preferably, the adhesive layer 86b, 186b, 286b, 386b (in this example, heat-activated adhesive) is aligned with the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380 while the heat-activated adhesive is activated to adhere the double-sided adhesive tape 84a, 184a, 284a, 384a to the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480; the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 together with the attached double-sided adhesive tape 84a, 184a, 284a, 384a is subsequently aligned with the panel 36, 136, 236, 336, 436 and the release strip is removed. Preferably, after the adhesive layer 86c is aligned with the panel 36, 136, 236, 336, 436 the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 is attached to the panel 36, 136, 236, 336, 436 by activating the adhesive layer 86c, 186c, 286c, 386c, 486c (in this example, pressure-sensitive adhesive). The adjacent panel 36, 136, 236, 336, 436 is similarly attached to the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 with double-sided adhesive tape 84a, 184a, 284a, 384a, 486a forming the structure of hinge 44, 144, 244, 344. 444 as shown in FIG. 5B. The flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 allows hinges 44, 144, 244, 344, 444 to take a flat or open configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, or to flex or bend as illustrated in FIGS. 5C, 7C and 8G, providing a hinge 44, 144, 244, 344, 444 that allows the folding cover assembly 30, 120, 230, 330 to fold as illustrated throughout the Figures and described herein, with panels 36, 136, 236, 336, 436 folding up and rotating towards other panels as shown. Preferably, the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380, 480 is adhered to the respective bottom or underside 38, 138, 238, 338, 438 of the panels 36, 136, 236, 336, 436 (specifically, the underside 38a-38d, 138a-138d, 238a-238d, 338a-338d of respective adjacent panels of 36a-36d, 136a-136d, 236a-236d, 336a-336d as described herein) of the folding cover assembly 30, 120, 230, 330, 430 as shown. In the preferred arrangements discussed herein, the hinges 44 are securely attached to the respective panels 36, are sealed to prevent water or debris from entering the cargo box through the folding cover assembly 30 at the hinges 44, and are generally impervious to environmental factors such as precipitation, wind, and temperatures to which a typical cargo box 5 would be exposed. Preferably, the hinge 44 is low profile, so that the thin structure provides an effectively continuous seal along the perimeter seal 34 to prevent ingress of precipitation or debris or loss of contents from the cargo box 5, or lifting of the folding cover assembly by the wind under normal circumstances. All of the respective seals that are disclosed herein and can be used as a perimeter seal 34, 134, 234, 334, 434 are water resistant, preferably water proof such that water cannot flow through the seal material and is prevented from egress into the cargo box 5 through the respective seal material. In preferred embodiments, the perimeter seal 34, 134, 234, 334, 434 will be secured with an adhesive material to the underside of each of the respective panels proximate an outer portion of each of the respective panels and an outer portion of each of the respective flexible hinges proximate the outer edges of each of the respective panels, so that the passage of moisture through the juncture of any areas where such bonding occurs is minimized, if not entirely prevented. Furthermore, when the perimeter seal 34, 134, 234, 334, 434 is secured to each of the respective rigid panels proximate an outer portion of each of the respective panels and to an outer portion of each of the respective flexible hinges proximate the outer edges of each of the respective panels and compressed between the outer edges of each of the respective panels and each of the respective side rails 20a, 20b, 120a, 120b, 220a, 220b, 320a, 320b, 420a, 420b, the top of the tailgate 6d and the top of front wall 6c, wherein the cover assembly 30, 130, 230, 330, 430 is fully secured to the support frame assembly 18, 118, 218, 318, 418, the perimeter seal 34, 134, 234, 334, 434 will act to minimize the egress of moisture, wind and debris into the cargo box 5, preferably completely preventing moisture, wind and debris of any kind from entering the cargo box 5 when the cover assembly is fully secured to the support frame and the pickup truck.

[0177] FIG. 5B also schematically illustrates support bows 50, 150, 250, 350, 450 which are preferably attached to respective panels 36, 136, 236, 336 by an adhesive 82b, 182b, 282b, 382b, which may include a layer or coating of adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape 84b, 184b, 284b, 384b, for example. Alternatively, a thermal or hot-melt or chemically activated adhesive, or a mechanical attachment, or a weld, or a combination, can be used to attach the support bows 50, 150, 250, 350 to the respective panels 36, 136, 236, 336. Double-sided adhesive tape 84b, 184b, 284b, 384b preferably includes an acrylic foam material 86d, 186d, 286d, 386d, with adhesive layer 86e, 186e, 286e, 386e arranged on one side of the acrylic foam material 86d, 186d, 286d, 386d, and adhesive layer 86f, 186f, 286f, 386f arranged on the other side of the acrylic foam material 86d, 186d, 286d, 386d, for example. Preferably, the adhesive 82b, 182b, 282b, 382b includes a double-sided adhesive tape 84b, 184b, 284b, 384b such as 3M CV62F from 3M, St. Paul, Minn. (“pressure adhesive tape”), wherein the double-sided adhesive tape 84b, 184b, 284b, 384b is an acrylic foam tape having an adhesive layer 86e, 186e, 286e, 386e which includes pressure-sensitive adhesive and having an adhesive layer 86f, 186f, 286f, 386f which includes pressure-sensitive adhesive which may be protected by a release strip (not shown) until it is desired to activate the pressure-sensitive adhesive, adhesive layer 86f, 186f, 286f, 386f. Preferably, the adhesive layer 86e, 186e, 286e, 386e (in this example, pressure-sensitive adhesive) is aligned with and adhered to the upper surface 74d, 174d, 274d, 374d of the support bow 50, 150, 250, 350 to adhere the double-sided adhesive tape 84b, 184b, 284b, 384b to the support bow 50, 150, 250, 350; the support bow 50, 150, 250, 350 together with the attached double-sided adhesive tape 84b, 184b, 284b, 384b is subsequently aligned with the panel 36, 136, 236, 336 and the release strip is removed. Preferably, the adhesive layer 86f, 186f, 286f, 386f is then aligned with the panel 36, 136, 236, 336, and the support bow 50, 150, 250, 350 is attached to the respective panel 36, 136, 236, 336 by activating the adhesive layer 86f, 186f, 286f, 386f (in this example, pressure-sensitive adhesive). While the arrangement just described is a preferred configuration, any of the adhesive layers just described can include heat-activated adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive, and the acrylic foam material is also preferable but not always required. For example, in alternative configurations, a single layer of adhesive could be used, similar to the arrangement shown in FIG. 5A. Other pressure-activated acrylic adhesive foam tape can be used, such as Lamatek 5357 from Lamatek, Inc., West Deptford, N.J. The sidebars or handles 59, 159, 259, 359 are preferably also attached to the underside 38, 138, 238, 338 of the respective panels 36, 136, 236, 336, preferably in a similar manner as that just described for the support bow 50, 150, 250, 350. Although adhesive 82b, 182b, 282b, 382b can be applied at selected portions of the length of the support bow 50, 150, 250, 350 or the sidebar 59, 159, 259, 359, adhesive 82b, 182b, 282b, 382b is preferably applied along substantially the entire length of the support bow 50, 150, 250, 350 and the sidebar 59, 159, 259, 359, to enhance stability and to minimize unwanted vibrations. Alternatively, the sidebars 59, 159, 259, 359, support bows 50, 150, 250, 350, or the flexible sheet material 80, 180, 280, 380 of hinges 44, 144, 244, 344 can be attached to the panels 36, 136, 236, 336 with adhesives such as glue, or with fasteners, or spot welds.

[0178] In some apparatus and methods embodiments, the folding cover assembly 30, 120, 230, 330 folds in stages or steps; a preferred embodiment is schematically illustrated in FIG. 5D. In this embodiment, starting from the unfolded or closed configuration of the folding cover assembly 30 (configuration 1), the hinge 44a flexes to allow the rear panel 36a to fold up, passing through 90 degrees (configuration 2) towards the middle panel 36b, and fold over onto the middle panel 36b (configuration 3). The hinge 44b flexes to allow the middle panel 36b (together with the rear panel 36a which is folded onto the middle panel 36b) to fold up, passing through 90 degrees (configuration 4) towards the spacer panel 36d, passing through a point at which standoffs 58 contact the front panel (configuration 5). The hinge 44b flexes back towards 90 degrees as hinge 44c flexes to allow the spacer panel 36d to fold up, and continue to fold over (together with the rear panel 36a which is folded onto the middle panel 36b, and the middle panel 36b) towards the front panel 36c (configuration 6), until the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up (configuration 7). Note that FIG. 5D is a schematic overview of the general folding of the folding cover assembly 30; the various configurations are further illustrated and described elsewhere herein in greater detail.

[0179] FIG. 5E is a schematic illustration showing an alternate configuration of an alternate folding cover assembly 30′ folded up. In some embodiments, the front panel 36c′ is noticeably longer than panels 36a′ and 36b′. In some embodiments, the spacer panel 36d is oriented approximately vertically when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up, and the front panel 36c simply extends farther frontward than the middle panel 36b and the rear panel 36a. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5E, the spacer panel 36d′ is correspondingly longer to accommodate the lengths of the panels 36a′, 36b′, and 36c′ as illustrated. In this case, the spacer panel is noticeably non-vertical when the folding cover assembly 30′ is folded up.

[0180] FIG. 5F is a schematic illustration similar to that of FIG. 5E, showing a further alternate configuration of an alternate folding cover assembly 30″ folded up. In some embodiments, the front panel 36c″ is noticeably shorter than panels 36a″ and 36b″. In some embodiments, the spacer panel 36d is oriented approximately vertically when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up, and the middle panel 36b and the rear panel 36a simply extend farther frontward than the front panel 36c. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5F, the spacer panel 36d″ is correspondingly longer to accommodate the lengths of the panels 36a″, 36b″, and 36c″ as illustrated. In this case, the spacer panel is noticeably non-vertical when the folding cover assembly 30″ is folded up. In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 5E and 5F, the spacer panel can be oriented preferably from about zero to about 60 degrees from a vertical orientation; the orientation is determined by the various lengths of the panels 36 and the standoff distance (see FIG. 14C). When the cover assembly is in the fully folded position, the top surface 37d of the spacer panel 36d can stand generally at an angle of from about 30 to about 150 degrees to the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c, preferably from about 40 to about 140 degrees to the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c; more preferably from about 50 to about 130 degrees to the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c; even more preferably from about 60 to about 120 degrees to the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c, and even more preferably from about 80 to about 100 degrees to the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c, generally depending upon the length of the front panel 36c, which can be varied in various embodiments of the cover assembly. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the top surface 37d of the hinge panel 36d will generally reside at an angle of about 90 degrees to the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c.

[0181] Preferably, the length 39a of the rear panel 36a is somewhat smaller than the length 39b of the middle panel 36b so that the rear panel 36a does not interfere with the hinges 44b, 44c, support bow 50e, or other nearby structures when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up or unfolded. If the length 39a of the rear panel 36a is too much smaller than the length 39b of the middle panel 36b, the standoffs 58 attached to the support bow 50a will be farther removed from the respective edges of the front panel 36c and the middle panel 36b and may not provide the desired support in the folded up configuration. More preferably, the length 39a of the rear panel 36a is from about 0.25 inch to about 8 inches smaller than the length 39b of the middle panel 36b. Still more preferably, the length 39a of the rear panel 36a is from about 0.5 inch to about 2 inches smaller than the length 39b of the middle panel 36b. Even more preferably, the length 39a of the rear panel 36a is about 0.75 inch smaller than the length 39b of the middle panel 36b.

[0182] Preferably, the length 39d of the spacer panel 36d is large enough to accommodate the hinges 44b and 44c without interference with the support bow 50e, but is preferably not significantly larger than required to accommodate the hinges 44b, 44c and support bow 50e so that the stored profile of the folding cover assembly 30 is minimized and minimize the folded profile when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up but remains attached to the side rails 20a, 20b as illustrated in FIG. 10D is minimized, which is believed to reduce any tendency for the folding cover assembly 30 to catch wind when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up but remains attached to the side rails 20a, 20b and when the truck 2 is in motion. In some embodiments, the length 39d of the space panel 36d is no greater than about one-third the lengths 39a, 39b, 39c of the other respective panels 36a, 36b, 36c.

[0183] Preferably, the length 39b of the middle panel 36b is somewhat smaller than the length 39c of the front panel 36c so that the driver or operator 8 can easily grasp the storage straps 94a and strap brackets 94b, when the folding cover assembly 30 is in the folded up configuration illustrated in FIG. 10A, to hook the strap brackets 94b in the bracket slots 94c at the front of the front panel 36c as illustrated in FIG. 10B. If the length 39c of the front panel 36c is longer than the length 39b of the middle panel 36b, the folded up configuration of the folding cover assembly 30, as illustrated in FIG. 10D, will cover a larger portion of the cargo box 5 so that there is a more limited opening to the cargo box 5 when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up and secured on the truck 2 as illustrated in FIG. 10D. More preferably, the length 39b of the middle panel 36b is from about 0.25 inch to about 6 inches smaller than the length 39c of the front panel 36c. Still more preferably, the length 39b of the middle panel 36b is from about 1 inch to about 3 inches smaller than the length 39c of the front panel 36c. Even more preferably, the length 39b of the middle panel 36b is about 1.733 inches smaller than the length 39c of the front panel 36c.

[0184] Once the latches 52 at both ends of the support bow 50a are retracted as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and described above, the rear end of the rear panel 36a can be lifted up from both side rails 20a and 20b, as illustrated in FIG. 6A. The support bow 50b near the front end of the rear panel 36a does not have latches 52; rather, the rear panel 36a is interconnected with the middle panel 36b by flexible hinge 44a. Since the front end of the rear panel 36a is in close proximity to the rear end of the middle panel 36b, the latches 52 at the ends of the support bow 50c at the rear end of the middle panel 36b sufficiently secure the front portion of the rear panel 36a of the folding cover assembly 30 to the side rails 20a and 20b.

[0185] When the latches 52 near the rear end of the rear panel 36a are retracted and the rear end of the rear panel 36a is lifted up from the side rails 20a and 20b, the rear panel 36a pivots upwards and frontwards, bending the hinge 44a as illustrated in FIG. 6A. The release cord 54b is attached to the latches 52 at the ends of the support bow 50c near the rear end of the middle panel 36b and passes through cord guides 56 along the support bow 50c. However, the release cord 54b also passes through cord guide 56a along the support bow 50b. As the rear panel 36a is lifted up, the cord guide 56a is displaced, automatically pulling release cord 54b. When the rear panel 36a is lifted up to an angle of about 45 to 90 degrees as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the release cord 54b is pulled far enough to release the latches 52 at the ends of the support bow 50c, with the engaging portion 53b of each latch 52 being retracted from the side rail lip 24 of each of the side rails 20a and 20b as shown in FIG. 6B to allow the rear portion of the middle panel 36b to be lifted up from the side rails 20a and 20b. Note that the optional hinge guard 48 is shown in phantom in FIG. 6B and some other figures herein.

[0186] The rear panel 36a is rotated further, onto the middle panel 36b as illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B. Note that in FIG. 7B, a small portion of the hinge 44a has been removed and is shown in phantom to reveal the underlying panels 36a, 36b. At this point, since the latches 52 at the ends of the support bow 50c are automatically retracted as previously described, the middle panel 36b can be lifted from the side rails 20a and 20b, with the middle panel 36b (together with the rear panel 36a which is folded onto the middle panel 36b) pivoting upwards and frontwards, bending the hinge 44b. A release cord 54c is attached to the latches 52 at the ends of the support bow 50e which is attached to the spacer panel 36d and passes through cord guides 56 along the support bow 50e. However, the release cord 54c also passes through cord guide 56b along the support bow 50d. As the middle panel 36b is lifted up, the cord guide 56b is displaced, automatically pulling release cord 54c. When the middle panel 36b is lifted up to an angle of about 45 to 90 degrees as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the release cord 54c is pulled far enough to release the latches 52 at the ends of the support bow 50e, with the engaging portion 53b of each latch 52 being retracted from the side rail lip 24 of the side rails 20a and 20b as illustrated in FIG. 8B to allow the spacer panel 36d to be lifted up from the side rails 20a and 20b.

[0187] With continued lifting and rotating of the middle panel 36b frontwards, the middle panel 36b together with the rear panel 36a rotates frontwards towards the front panel 36c. Standoffs 58 are attached to the bottom side of the rear panel 36a; in the example illustrated, there are two standoffs 58 attached to the support bow 50a, and two standoffs 58 attached to the support bow 50b. Through the folding and rotating of the middle panel 36b and the rear panel 36a as just described, the standoffs 58 attached to the support bow 50a contact the top of the front panel 36c as shown in FIG. 8C. Standoffs 58 help to maintain a spaced relationship between the rear panel 36a and the front panel 36c. With continued rotating of the middle panel 36b (together with the front panel 36a) the hinge 44c bends and the spacer panel 36d lifts off the side rails 20a and 20b as illustrated in FIG. 8D. With continued rotating of the middle panel 36b frontwards, together with the rear panel 36a and the spacer panel 36d, and pivoting and sliding of the standoffs 58, the middle panel 36b, the rear panel 36a, and the spacer panel 36d rotate progressively farther frontwards towards the front panel 36c, as illustrated in FIGS. 8E and 8F, until the standoffs 58 all contact the front panel 36c (FIG. 9A). During this folding of the folding cover assembly 30, the hinges 44b and 44c flex as the middle panel 36b, the rear panel 36a, and the spacer panel 36d rotate towards the front panel 36c. Depending on forces applied by the driver or other operator 8, the hinges 44b and 44c can flex to pass through various increasing or decreasing angles. Most commonly, however, the angles will vary in the following manner. Referring to FIGS. 8A, 8C-8F, and 10D, during the folding up of the folding cover assembly 30, the angle A between the middle panel 36b and the spacer panel 36d (which is about 180 degrees before beginning the folding up of the folding cover assembly 30, as in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7A) initially decreases to angle A1 which is about 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 8A, then decreases past 90 degrees to angle A2 at which point the standoffs 58 contact the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c as shown in FIG. 8C; angle A2 may be about 35 degrees, but may be somewhat larger or smaller than about 35 degrees depending on the standoff distance 90a and the setback distance 90b between the standoff 58 and the bending portion of the hinge 44b (see FIG. 14C). Angle B between the spacer panel 36d and the front panel 36c (which is about 180 degrees before beginning the folding up of the folding cover assembly 30, as in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7A) is shown as angle B1 in the configuration of FIG. 8A as about 180 degrees, and is shown as angle B2 in the configuration of FIG. 8C, preferably remaining at about 180 degrees until the standoffs 58 contact the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c as shown in FIG. 8C. Angle C between the rear panel 36b and the front panel 36c (which is about 180 degrees before beginning the folding up of the folding cover assembly 30, as in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7A) initially decreases to angle C1 which is about 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 8A, then decreases past 90 degrees to angle C2 at which point the standoffs 58 contact the top surface 37c of the front panel 36c as shown in FIG. 8C. With continued rotation of the rear panel 36a and middle panel 36b and spacer panel 36d, depending on the forces and manipulations applied by the driver or operator 8, the angle A may remain about the same or may increase again as the angle B begins to decrease and the angle C continues to decrease, as shown as angles A3, B3, and C3 in FIG. 8D. With still continued rotation of the rear panel 36a and middle panel 36b and spacer panel 36d, the angle A may increase again as the angles B and C continue to decrease, as shown as angles A4, B4, and C4 in FIG. 8E. With further continued rotation of the rear panel 36a and middle panel 36b and spacer panel 36d, the angles A and B continue to approach about 90 degrees as the angle C continues to approach zero degrees as shown as angles A5, B5 and C5 in FIG. 8F. When the folding cover assembly 30 is completely folded, the angles A and B are preferably about 90 degrees and the angle C is preferably about zero degrees, as shown as angles A6, B6 and C6 on FIG. 10D, with the rear panel 36a, the middle panel 36b, and the front panel 36c being approximately parallel to each other, and the spacer panel 36d approximately vertical, oriented at about 90 degrees with respect to the panels 36a, 36b, and 36d. Other folding cover assemblies such as folding cover assemblies 130, 230, and 330 can fold in a similar manner as that just described; folding cover assembly 330 can additionally fold in a somewhat inverted configuration as depicted in Figs.

[0188] After passing through angle A2 as depicted in FIG. 8C, with continued rotation of the rear panel 36a and middle panel 36b, the angle A may increase again as the angle B between the spacer panel 36d and the front panel 36c (which was 180 degrees before beginning the folding up of the folding cover assembly 30) decreases towards about 90 degrees. As the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up, the angle 88c between the rear panel 36a and the front panel 36c decreases towards about zero degrees, passing through the configurations depicted in FIGS. 8C-8F. For embodiments in which the folded configuration of the folding cover assembly 30 has the rear panel 36a folded so that it is parallel to the front panel 36c, so that angle 88c is about zero degrees when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up, the folding cover assembly 30 passes from the configuration depicted in FIG. 7a, through those of 8A and 8C-8F, to that of 9A and 10D, the approximate relationship between the angles 88a, 88b, and 88c is believed to be given by the equation (angle 88c)=(angle 88a)+(angle 88b)−(180 degrees).

[0189] At this point, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A-10D, the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up, but is still attached to the side rails 20a and 20b, and the latches 52 at each end of the support bow 50f are engaged with the side rail lip 24 of the side rails 20a and 20b as illustrated in FIG. 9B. The latches 52 at each end of the support bow 50g are similarly engaged with the side rail lip 24 of the side rails 20a and 20b (FIG. 10C). Preferably, a containment bracket or anchor socket 92a is affixed to the side rail 20a as shown in FIGS. 10C and 11C, and a mirror-image anchor socket 92b is affixed to side rail 20b (FIGS. 10A-10C). The anchor sockets 92a and 92b keep the engaging portion 53b of the latches 52 at each end of the support bow 50g in a desired location along the side rail lip 24 of the side rails 20a and 20b and thereby aid in positioning the folding cover assembly 30 in a desired alignment with respect to the cargo box 5 when the engaging portion 53b of the latches 52 at each end of the support bow 50g are engaged with the side rail lip 24 of the side rails 20a and 20b.

[0190] Referring now to FIGS. 10A-10D, bundling means such as bungee cords or storage straps 94 can be utilized to fix the folding cover assembly 30 in the folded configuration; other straps, buckles, or hooks can be utilized as bundling means. FIGS. 10A-10D show a preferred embodiment, in which two elastic storage straps 94a are provided, one towards either side of the middle panel 36b, for securing the folding cover assembly 30 in a folded configuration. Preferably, strap brackets 94b are provided for each storage strap 94a, for hooking the storage straps 94a to the front panel 36c; the strap brackets 94b are formed of a strong polymer such as a polyamide, although other materials, including composites and metals, can be used. Preferably, the strap brackets are formed of nylon. Preferably, bracket slots 94c are provided in the front panel 36c as shown, and accommodate the strap brackets 94b. The strap brackets 94b are attached to or captured on the storage straps 94a, and the strap brackets 94b hook to the bracket slots 94c in the front panel 36c to secure the folding cover assembly 30 in the folded configuration when desired. In the front perspective view of FIG. 10B of the folded folding cover assembly 30, a storage strap 94a is hooked to the front panel 36c with a strap bracket 94b. FIG. 10C is a front view which illustrates a storage strap 94a near each side of the middle panel 36b which is hooked to the front panel 36c with corresponding strap brackets 94b to secure the folded folding cover assembly 30 in a folded configuration as shown. FIG. 10D shows a side view of this folded configuration of the folding cover assembly 30, with the rear panel 36a secured to the front panel 36c. The folding cover assembly 30 can be left in this folded configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 10D, covering only the front portion of the cargo box 5.

[0191] Alternatively, if it is desired to remove the folding cover assembly 30 to leave the cargo box 5 completely uncovered, the folding cover assembly 30 can be removed as follows. As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, segment 60f of the release cord 54d and segment 60g of the release cord 54e are accessible between cord guides 56c and 56d. Conveniently, segment 60f of release cord 54d and segment 60g of release cord 54e are arranged adjacent to each other, and can easily be grasped simultaneously by a driver or other operator 8. Pulling on the release cord 54d in segment 60f will retract the latches 52 at the ends of the support bow 50f against the force of the biasing members or springs 68 as illustrated in FIG. 11B, while pulling on the release cord 54e in segment 60g will retract the latches 52 at the ends of the support bow 50g against the force of the biasing members or springs 68, as illustrated in FIG. 11C. Note that as in some other figures herein, some elements are depicted simply in phantom on FIG. 11C to indicate their locations but are shown in detail in other figures. Typically, the release cords 54d and 54e will be pulled by a driver or other operator 8; the operator 8 preferably has entered the cargo box 5 via the tailgate 6d to grasp segments 60f and 60g of release cords 54d and 43e, respectively. When the release cords 54d and 43e are pulled, the engaging portions 53b of the latches 52 at the ends of support bows 50f and 50g are retracted away from the lips side rail lips 24 of the side rails 20a and 20b, releasing the latches 52 from the side rails 20a and 20b, and allowing both the rear portion of the front panel 36c and the front portion of the front panel 36c to be lifted up from the side rails 20a and 20b. In this configuration, the folded folding cover assembly 30 is free from the side rails 20a and 20b and can be lifted up and off the cargo box 5 as illustrated in FIG. 12; the folding cover assembly 30 can be moved away from the pickup truck 2, or stowed in the cargo box 5 or elsewhere as desired.

[0192] When it is desired to replace the folding cover assembly 30 on the cargo box 5, or to close one or more panels 36, the various steps illustrated can be done in the reverse order. To latch the various latches 52, however, it is not necessary to manually retract any of the release cords, since the latch slide 53 has an inclined bottom surface 53a. When the latch slide 53 contacts and is forced further towards the side rail lip 24 of the side rails 20a or 20b, the inclined bottom surface 53a of the latch slide 53 will retract the engaging portion 53b to allow the engaging portion 53b to move past the side rail lip 24, whereupon the spring 68 will move the engaging portion 53b into the secured configuration, such as illustrated in FIG. 3B and elsewhere herein.

[0193] Referring now to FIGS. 13A-13C, attachment of a cord guide 56 to a support bow 50 is illustrated. The cord guide 56 has a securement feature 89a which is configured for attachment to the support bow 50. Preferably, the securement feature 89a is oblong and is narrow enough to fit into the channel opening 74c, and when aligned with the open bottom of the bow bottom portion 74b it can be inserted into the support bow 50 as shown in FIG. 13B. The cord guide 56 is rotated so that the oblong securement feature 89a secures the cord guide 56 to the support bow 50 as shown in FIG. 13C.

[0194] Referring now to FIGS. 14A-14C, attachment of a standoff 58 to a support bow 50 is illustrated. The standoff 58 has a securement feature 89b which is configured for attachment to the support bow 50. Preferably, the securement feature 89b is oblong and is narrow enough to fit into the channel opening 74c, and when aligned with the open bottom of the bow bottom portion 74b it can be inserted into the support bow 50 as shown in FIG. 14B. The standoff 58 is rotated so that the oblong securement feature 89b secures the standoff 58 to the support bow 50 as shown in FIG. 14C. The standoff distance 90a and the setback distance 90b together determine the angle 88a (FIG. 8C) at which the standoff 58 contacts the front panel 36c when the folding cover assembly 30 is being folded up. Preferably, protective pad or insert or rubber foot 58a is attached to the end of the standoff 58 as shown. Protective pad 58a serves to reduce impact or abrasion damage to the front panel 36c when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up onto the front panel 36c.

[0195] In this example, the length 39d of the spacer panel 36d is substantially smaller than the lengths 39a, 39b, 39c of the other panels 36a, 36b, 36c (FIG. 2A). The length 39d of the spacer panel 36d, together with the standoff distance 90a, determine the separation between the front panel 36a and the rear panel 36c in the folded configuration such as is illustrated in FIG. 10D. The larger lengths 39a, 39b, 39c of panels 36a, 36b, 36c provide for efficient coverage of the cargo box 5, while the smaller length 39d of the spacer panel 36d provides for folding up of the folding cover assembly 30 to a convenient folded size, while providing space for the various hinges 44, support bows 50, and other components within the folded-up folding cover assembly 30. The standoff distance 90a together with the setback distance 90b also provide for controlled folding of the folding cover assembly 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A-9A. As the spacer panel 36d, the middle panel 36b, and the rear panel 36a are folded together onto the front panel 36c, the standoff 58 near each end of the support bow 50a contacts the front panel 36c and provides a pivot point and sliding support to aid in orienting the panels 36 in the folded configuration as shown. The standoff distance 90a is chosen to accommodate the length 39d of the spacer panel 36d, allowing for the thickness of the hinges 44b, 44c as illustrated in FIGS. 10D and 14C. Preferably, the standoff distance 90a is long enough to ensure contact between the protective pad 58a and the top surface 37c of the panel 36c in order to minimize movement and stress on the hinges 44b, 44c and to minimize any damage due to abrasion between the protective pad 58a and the top surface 37c of the panel 36c. Preferably, the standoff distance 90a is short enough to avoid undue stress on the panel 36c and the hinges 44b, 44c when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up as illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10D.

[0196] Referring to FIGS. 15A-15C, the perimeter seal 34 provides a seal against the entry of water, dust, or other debris into the cargo box 5 around the perimeter of the folding cover assembly 30. The perimeter seal can also adapt to irregularities in the fit between the folding cover assembly 30 and the sidewalls 6a, 6b, front wall 6c, and tailgate 6d of the cargo box 5. The perimeter seal 34 is preferably attached to the panels 36 with adhesive such as adhesive 82a, 82b described above, although other attachment mechanisms can be used to secure the perimeter seal to the underside 38 of the respective panel 36, such as those described herein for attachment of the flexible sheet material 80 or the support bows 50 to the panels 36. Preferably, the perimeter seal 34 is attached to the panels 36 in the same manner as are the hinges 44. FIG. 15A schematically illustrates one example perimeter seal 34a having D-shaped cross section as shown. Preferably, adhesive 35 is used to secure the perimeter seal 34 to the panels 36; although other types of adhesive, such as pressure-activated, heat-activated, UV-activated, chemical-reaction-cure, or other adhesives that are known in the art, can be used, preferably adhesive 35 is an adhesive such as the previously described adhesives 82a, 82b, 84a, 84b. FIG. 15B schematically illustrates another example perimeter seal 34b having a perimeter seal lip 34d; perimeter seal lip 34d can aid in alignment of the perimeter seal 34 at the edge of the panel 36, and can also provide some protection when manipulating panel 36 so that injury from contact with any narrow or sharp edges of the panel 36 is avoided. FIG. 15C schematically illustrates another example perimeter seal 34c having an extended perimeter seal flange 34e which provides similar advantages as the perimeter seal lip 34d but also extends a short distance over the top surface of the panel 36; the example perimeter seal 34c has an open cross section with an extended sealing feature 34f. Different configurations of the perimeter seal 34 can be used in different portions of the folding cover assembly 30. For example, the perimeter seal 34a could be used along the front of the front panel 36c to seal against the front wall 6c of the cargo box 5, while the perimeter seal 34b could be used along the sides of the panels 36 to seal against the sidewalls 6a, 6b (or sidewall cap 6e, if the truck 2 is so equipped), while the perimeter seal 34c could be used along the rear of the rear panel 36a to seal against the tailgate 6d. Further example perimeter seals include perimeter seal 34g, schematically illustrated in FIG. 15D, which has an open cross section similar to perimeter seal 34c but without an extended lip or flange. FIG. 15E illustrates an example perimeter seal 34h which is similar to perimeter seal 34b but also includes an extended perimeter seal flange similar to that shown in FIG. 15C. FIG. 15F shows an edge guard 34i for attachment at an exposed edge of a panel 36 but with minimal intrusion along the top surface 37 or the bottom surface or underside 38 of the respective panel (corresponding to the top surface 32a or the bottom surface 32b, respectively, of the folding cover assembly 30); edge guard 34i can be used for protection at the rear edge of the rear panel 36a, for example. Edge guard 34i is preferably secured by an interference fit with the respective panel 36; alternatively, edge guard 34i can be secured to the respective panel 36 by an adhesive such as adhesive 35 illustrated in FIGS. 15A-15E. FIG. 15G schematically illustrates a perimeter seal 34j similar to perimeter seal 34g of FIG. 15D but having an extended sealing feature 34f somewhat shorter than the perimeter seal of FIG. 15D, as shown. The perimeter seal 34 can be formed into a bend at the corners of the cargo box 5, or separate segments of the perimeter seal 34 can be applied near each of the driver's side, passenger side, front side, and rear side of the folding cover apparatus 30, preferably cut to meet at a 45 degree angle to provide an essentially continuous perimeter seal around the perimeter. In a similar manner, differing configurations of perimeter seal 34, such as various perimeter seals 34a, 34b, 34c, 34g, 34h, and 34j described herein can be used along different portions of the perimeter, preferably cut to meet in close approximation and thereby providing an essentially continuous perimeter seal around the perimeter but with differing seal configurations at different portions of the perimeter. An edge guard such as edge guard 34i can be used to protect against damage or injury from the edge of the panel 36. Preferably, the perimeter seal 34 is arranged to provide an essentially continuous perimeter seal around the perimeter of the cargo box 5, and in addition, the rear edge of the rear panel 36a preferably has an edge guard 34i. Thus, some portions of the folding cover assembly 30 have perimeter seals 34 (which may include perimeter seals 34a, 34b, 34c, 34g, 34h, 34j, for example) in addition to edge guard 34i. Alternatively, the extended perimeter seal flange 34e can be incorporated into the perimeter seal 34 so that a separate edge guard 34i is not required. Various perimeter seals and edge guards are available from Lakeview Industries, Chaska, Minn. Preferably, each of the folding cover assemblies 30, 130, 230, 330, 430 described herein includes a perimeter seal such as a perimeter seal disclosed herein, such as perimeter seal 34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34g, 34h, 34j, 134, 134a, 134b, 134c, 134g, 134h, 134j, 234, 234a, 234b, 234c, 234g, 234h, 234j, 334, 334a, 334b, 334c, 334g, 334h, 334j, 434, 434a, 434b, 434c, 434g, 434h, 434j. In some views in the drawings, the perimeter seal is not shown for clarity of illustration.

[0197] Now referring to FIGS. 16A-16E, the panels 36 preferably include sheet metal, although a rigid and tough polymer sheet can be used. In particular, lightweight and strong metal alloys, such as aluminum alloys, are preferred. The panels 36 are preferably relatively rigid as compared to the hinges 44, so that when the folding cover assembly 30 is folded up as described herein, the panels 36 remain relatively flat, while the hinges 44 can flex to fold up the folding cover assembly 30. Preferably, the panels 36 are from about 0.020 inches to about 0.200 inches thick. More preferably, the panel material is 5052-T34 rolled aluminum alloy from Aleris Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, which has a thickness of about 0.063 inches thick and is coated on the top with a Krystal Kote™ polyester paint system coating from Valspar Sourcing, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. and on the bottom with a clear epoxy coating while it is in the factory. The rolled aluminum alloy is manufactured into a coil of rolled aluminum. Once cooled, the coil is unrolled and separately coated on the top and the bottom surfaces of the aluminum material, heat treated and recoiled for delivery to a material handler or to the buyer. The coated panel material is then unrolled and panels are cut using a laser cutting machine or such other equipment that allows the panels to be effectively cut to desired size and shape specifications. The thickness of the respective panels is minimized to limit the weight of the respective panels and the cost of the materials, but it the panels are too thin they will be subject to deformation between supporting structures. The panel material will preferably have a thickness of from about 0.020 inches to about 0.200 inches, more preferably from about 0.030 inches to about 0.126 inches, still more preferably from about 0.040 inches to about 0.100 inches, even more preferably from about 0.050 inches to about 0.080 inches, and most preferably about 0.063 inches.

[0198] This most preferred thickness was selected for a number of reasons including strength and process limitations. For the preferred coating described above, 0.063 inches is the thickest size that is believed to be presently available from manufacturers of the product. Since this was the thickest material that could be obtained with the preferred coating, the rigid alloy 5052-T34 with the aforementioned coatings was selected from a number of other materials having a number of other sizes. We determined that using an aluminum alloy allows the cover to be both light weight and rigid. The 5052-T34 material was chosen because it allows the cover to be strong and resistant to permanent deflections under static loads, denting, bending and long term abuse. The thickness also creates limitations if it is too thick because the cover panels may interfere with one another at the hinge points and can therefore add a lot of unwanted stress on the hinge adhesive such as adhesive 82a, 84a where the respective hinges 44 are attached and sealed to the adjacent panels 36. If the panel material is too thin, the panels will sag and easily deform with static loads. In alternate embodiments, other materials are used to make the panels 36 such as steel, aluminum, fiberglass, carbon fiber, ceramic, thermoset plastics, thermoplastics, HDPE, LDPE, ABS, PVC, Nylon, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper, brass, stainless steel, rubber, fiber-reinforced or glass-containing polymeric materials and the like.

[0199] As noted, the preferred coatings on the panels 36 are a Kyrstal Kote™ polyester paint system from Valspar, preferably a black polyester base coat with a clear texture top coat on the top surface 37 and a clear epoxy coating on the underside or bottom surface 38 of the panels 36. Other coatings that could be used in alternate embodiments include acrylic paints, polyester paints, epoxy coatings, galvanized coatings, zinc plating, anodizing, other plating systems and the like. Alternative coatings include any combination of the above-mentioned coatings on either the top or the bottom sides of the panels 36. The texture on the top surface 37, bottom surface 38 of the respective panels 36 can be smooth, brushed, embossed, dented, sandblasted, rolled, waved and the like. Although a black top surface is preferred on the panels 36, coating including others colors that are well known in the art may also be applied on the top surfaces 37 and the bottom surfaces 38 of the respective panels 38 in alternative embodiments. It will be appreciated that the coating on the respective surfaces are desirable both aesthetically and functionally to enable the respective surfaces to hold up over time in harsh environments.

[0200] The support bows 50 are preferably metal channels, although a strong polymer can be used. Preferably, the support bows 50b-50f have a slight bend or bow, and are downwardly concave or concave down as shown (deflection distance d is exaggerated for illustration). When the panels 36 are attached to the bent support bows 50b-50f, the panels 36 deflect and take on a corresponding slight bend or bow, except for the rear portion of the rear panel 36a and the front portion of the front panel 36c, which are preferably flat so that they approximate the shape of the tailgate 6d and the front wall 6c of the cargo box 5. For this reason, the support bows 50a and 50g are preferably straight. The resulting slight bow in the folding cover assembly 30 aids in shedding of water or debris from the folding cover assembly 30. Although the support bows 50 preferably include extruded channel, as long as the upper surface 74d of the support bow 50 has this downward curvature, the curvature will be imposed upon the panels 36 in the manner described. The upper surface 74d of the respective support bow 50 is preferably curved so that the upper surface 74d at the ends of the support bow 50 are a deflection distance d lower than a highest extent of the upper surface 74d of the support bow 50 as shown (between the ends of the support bow 50, but preferably at the center portion of the support bow 50 as shown in FIG. 16B). The deflection distance d is preferably between about zero and about 1 inch; more preferably, the deflection distance d is preferably between about 1/64th inch and about ½ inch; still more preferably, the deflection distance d is about ⅛ inch. These example approximate deflection distances are for a typical cargo box 5 of a typical pickup truck 2; for wider or narrower cargo boxes, the length of the panels 36 and the respective support bows 50 may be longer or shorter, and the deflection distance d is preferably correspondingly larger or smaller, in order to provide a similar function in aiding the run-off of water or other debris from the panels 36. Currently, for example, most common pickup truck cargo boxes are from about 3.5 feet to about 6 feet in width; the deflection distance is preferably correspondingly smaller or larger when the folding cover assembly is sized to cover a cargo box which is narrower than about 3.5 feet or wider than about 6 feet, respectively. We have found that for most common trucks, a deflection distance d which is about 1/16 inch or less typically does not provide the preferred water run-off. We have also found that a deflection distance d which is about 3/16 inch or more can create unwanted stress particularly in the panels 36a and 36c which preferably have one curved support bow 50 and one generally straight support bow 50 configured to approximate the shape of the tailgate 6d and the front wall 6c of the cargo box 5. Therefore, we have found that for the typical truck cargo boxes 5 about 3.5 to about 6 feet in width, the preferred deflection distance is between about 1/16 inch and 3/16 inch. In some embodiments, support bows 50 include optional opposed support holes 74e, 74f in the front and rear portions, respectively, of the support bow as illustrated.

[0201] In preferred embodiments, the support bows 50 include generally C-shaped channels oriented with the channel opening 74c at the bottom. Some components of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 preferably slide into or are attached to the support bows 50, including the latch slides 53, the cord guides 56, the standoffs 58, spring 68, and the spring retainers 70. The bow end caps 78 preferably slide into the ends of the support bows 50.

[0202] Sidebars or handles 59 are attached to panels 36a, 36b, and 36c near each side of each panel 36. Sidebars 59 provide additional support along the side portions of the panels 36. The sidebars 59 are preferably metal, although a strong polymer can be used. More preferably, the sidebars 59 are formed of aluminum. The sidebars 59 are preferably formed with recesses or other grasping features, to facilitate grasping for lifting and positioning the panels 36 during opening and closing of the folding cover assembly 30. Preferably, the support bows 50 and the sidebars or handles 59 are elongated, so that they can provide support across the width 40 or length 39, respectively, of the respective panel 36.

[0203] Referring now to FIGS. 17A-17B, viewed along the viewing line 17A-17A on FIG. 3A, additional details in the vicinity of the side of the spacer panel 36d are illustrated. These views show hinges 44, latches 52, and hinge guards 48. A hinge guard 48 is preferably attached to the support bow 50 which is immediately to the rear of the hinge 44 which the respective hinge guard 48 supports; in this view, a hinge guard 48 is shown attached to the support bow 50d, and extending under the hinge 44b. In alternative embodiments, a hinge guard 48 can be attached to a support bow 50 immediately to the front of the hinge 44 which the hinge guard 48 supports; this configuration may be more convenient in some situations, such as to reduce any interference of the hinge guard 44 with other structures. Preferably, a hinge guard 48 is also attached to support bow 50e and extends under hinge 44c as shown. Hinge guards 48 are preferably attached to support bows 50 at locations which do not interfere with operation of the respective latch 52. Preferably, the hinge guards 48 are attached to the respective support bow 50 using a fasteners such as a screw or a bolt and nut combination; more preferably, size #8 self-tapping screws are used to attach the hinge guards 48 to the respective support bows 50. The location of release cords 54c are schematically indicated in cross section attached to respective latches 52. In FIG. 17B, the middle panel 36b has been raised up to begin folding this portion of the folding cover assembly 30. The hinge 44b is shown flexing, and the release cord 54c is shown being displaced as described above, thereby releasing the latches 52 near the ends of the support bow 50e, so that the spacer panel 36d can also be lifted up as also described above. Some elements shown elsewhere herein are not shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B to show the hinge function more clearly.

[0204] Referring now to FIGS. 18A-18B, alternative arrangements for spring retainer 70 are illustrated. In FIG. 18A, a preferred spring retainer 70 is shown, which includes square nuts 72a and a retainer bolt 72b; in assembly, the spring retainer 70 can be inserted into the support bow 50 and by rotating the retainer bolt 72b with respect to the square nuts 72a, the upper end of the retainer bolt 72b presses against the bow top portion 74a of the support bow 50 while the square nuts press against the bow bottom portion 74b of the support bow 50, fixing the spring retainer 70 in the desired location in the support bow 50. FIG. 18B illustrates an alternative spring retainer 70, which includes a retainer pin 72c which attaches to the support bow 50, such as by passing through opposed holes 74e, 74f in the front and rear portions of the support bow as illustrated. Note that in the spring retainer configuration illustrated in FIG. 18A, the support bow 50 can still have opposed holes 74e, 74f which may simply be unused in that case; these optional opposed holes 74e, 74f can be seen in FIGS. 16A and 43B and can accommodate the spring retainer configuration of FIG. 18B but may be unused with the spring retainer configuration of FIG. 18A. Other fastening mechanisms or retainers can be used.

[0205] FIGS. 19A-19E are schematic illustrations of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 for various configurations of cargo box 5 geometries as may be found on various trucks 2. Preferred embodiments of the folding cover assembly 30 include a rear panel 36a, a middle panel 36b, a front panel 36c, and a spacer panel 36d, as previously described. In FIGS. 19A-19E, the overall length 33 of the folding cover assembly 30 is shown, and the length 39 of each of the panels 36a-36d is indicated as 39a-39d, respectively, and the width 40 of the panels 36a-36d is indicated as 40a-40d, respectively, and the side angle 42 of the panels 36a-36d is indicated as 42a-42d, respectively. Panels 36a-36c can have similar length 39a-39c, or the length of some or all of panels 36a-36c can differ. Panel 36d can have a similar length 39d as panels 36a-36c, but preferably the length 39d of panel 36d is substantially smaller than the lengths 39a-39c of panels 36a-36c. Panels 36a-36d can have similar width 40, or the width of some or all of panels 36a-36d can differ. Panels 36a-36d can have the same side angle 42, or the side angle 42a-42d of some or all of panels 36a-36d can differ. FIG. 19A shows the folding cover assembly 30 as configured for a cargo box having angled sides.

[0206] FIG. 19B is a schematic illustration of the folding cover assembly 30 as configured for a cargo box having parallel sides; in this example, the width 40 of each of the panels is similar. FIG. 19C is a schematic illustration of the folding cover assembly 30 as configured for an elongated cargo box; in this example, the overall length 33 is longer than in the example of FIG. 19B. FIG. 19D is a schematic illustration of the folding cover assembly 30 as configured for a shorter cargo box; in this example, the overall length 33 is shorter than in the example of FIG. 19B. FIG. 19E is a schematic illustration of the folding cover assembly 30 as configured for a cargo box with arbitrary shape; in this example, the sides of the panels 36 are angled, and the rear of the rear panel 36a is curved, extending a curved extension distance 39e in the central portion with respect to the side portions of the rear panel 36a. The folding cover assembly 30 can be configured for a variety of other configurations of truck box 5, with any of the panels 36a-36d configured with straight or angled or curved shapes such as those illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 19A-19E, in various combinations.

[0207] FIG. 20 shows a bottom view of an alternate folding tonneau cover apparatus 110.

[0208] Visible in this view are hinges 144, which are situated between adjacent panels 136 and adjoin adjacent panels 136. Each panel 136 has a top surface 137 and a bottom surface or underside 138; panel 136a has a top surface 137a and a bottom surface or underside 138a, panel 136b has a top surface 137b and a bottom surface or underside 138b, panel 136c has a top surface 137c and a bottom surface or underside 138c, panel 136d has a top surface 137d and a bottom surface or underside 138d. For ease of discussion, hinges 144 are specifically referenced herein as 144a-144c, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 144. Specifically, situated between the rear panel 136a and the middle panel 136b is hinge 144a. Similarly, situated between the middle panel 136b and the spacer panel 136d is hinge 144b, and situated between the spacer panel 136d and the front panel 136c is hinge 144c. Hinges 144 allow the folding cover assembly 130 to be folded up and will be more fully described below. Optional hinge guards 148 are shown; hinge guards 148 provide additional support to the hinges 144 when the folding cover assembly 130 is unfolded and in place covering the cargo box 5 of truck 2 (FIG. 21A). Hinge guards 148 also provide protection against slicing through the hinges 144; further description of the hinge guards 148 is provided below. Support bows 150 are attached to the panels 136 to provide additional support and rigidity to the panels 136, and also provide a structure for mounting of various other components as described in detail later herein. For ease of discussion, support bows 150 are specifically referenced herein as 150a-150g, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 150. The folding tonneau cover apparatus 110 is removably secured to the support frame assembly 118 by securing apparatus 151a. Preferably, securing apparatus 151a includes at least one locking member 151b which is engageable and disengageable from the support frame assembly 118. Preferably, the locking member 151b includes latches 152 which are located at the support bows as shown and secure the folding cover assembly 130 to the side rails 120a and 120b. Release cords 154 are attached to the latches 152. For ease of discussion, release cords 154 are specifically referenced herein as 154a, 154b, and 154d, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 154. The release cords 154 pass through cord guides 156 which are attached to support bows 150 as shown. The cord guides are non-specifically or collectively referenced herein as 156, but cord guides 156a-156d are specifically referenced herein to facilitate the detailed description herein. Standoffs 158 are shown, and will be described in further detail below. Sidebars or handles 159 are attached to panels 136a, 136b, and 136c, near each side of each panel 136 to further support the panels 136. Perimeter seal 134 is located on the bottom 132b of the folding cover assembly 130 and is arranged to seal against the sidewalls 6a and 6b and the front wall 6c and the tailgate 6d of the cargo box 5; some portions of perimeter seal 134 are behind side rails 120a and 120b and not visible in FIG. 20. The perimeter seal 134 is further described herein. Clamps 114 secure the side rails 120a and 120b to the sidewalls 6a and 6b of the cargo box 5 (FIG. 21B).

[0209] The support bows or transverse frame members or channels 150 provide additional support for the panels 136. In this embodiment, the panels each have two support bows 150, one located near each of the front and rear ends of each panel 136, except for the spacer panel 136d, which has only a single support bow 150. In this embodiment, there are latches 152 mounted in pairs, one of each pair mounted near each end of each of the support bows 150a, 150c, and 150f as shown. As further described below, the latches 152 engage the side rails 120a and 120b to secure the folding cover assembly 130, and can slide a short distance towards or away from the side rails 120a and 120b to engage or release the folding cover assembly 130 or selected panels 136 or portions thereof from the side rails 120a and 120b as further described below. In this embodiment, there are three latch release cords or release cords or cords 154, each of which are connected to opposing pairs of latches 152 which secure the panels 136 to the side rails 120a and 120b. The release cords 154 pass through cord guides 156 which are mounted to the support bows 150; the release cords 154 can slide within the cord guides 156. The release cords 154 generally extend from the latches 152 along the support bows 150. The release cords 154 can be actuated to release each pair of latches 152 by a driver or operator when desired, to open the folding cover assembly 130.

[0210] Also seen on FIG. 20 are optional hinge guards 148; the optional hinge guards 148 are preferably attached to one of the support bows 150 adjacent to each of the respective hinges 144. In this example, the hinge guards 148 are shown attached to the support bows 150b, 150d, and 50f. The hinge guards 148 provide support for the hinges 144, such as to support weight or pressure applied to the hinges 144, the panels 136, or other portions of the folding cover assembly 130. The hinge guards 148 can also provide some protection against cutting through a hinge 144 to enter the cargo box 5. Preferably, a hinge guard 148 is attached to support bows 150 which are adjacent to each hinge 144. In some embodiments, two hinge guards 148 are provided for each hinge 144, and are located one towards each side of the respective support bows 150. Alternatively, a single hinge guard 148 can be used to support a hinge 144; the single hinge guard 148 can be long, extending much or all of the distance between the side rails 120 to support substantially the entire length of the respective hinge 144. Alternatively, more than two hinge guards 148 can be included to support a hinge 144. Different numbers and lengths and configurations of hinge guards 148 can be used to support the different hinges 144. For example, two short hinge guards 148 can be attached to support bow 150b to support hinge 144a, while a single long hinge guard 148 can extend along substantially the length of the support bow 150d to support hinge 144b, and three hinge guards 148 of differing lengths can be attached to support bow 150f to support hinge 144c. Various configurations and combinations of hinge guards 148 can be utilized. Shown in phantom on FIG. 20 are additional example locations 148′ for hinge guards 148. Although the location of the hinge guards 148 attached to the support bows 150b, 150d, and 150f are preferred, hinge guards can alternatively be attached to support bows 150c or 150d; preferably, the placement and configuration of the hinge guards 148 is chosen to accommodate other features of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 110, such as to avoid interference with latches 152, release cords 154, cord guides 156, standoffs 158, or other structures. Although discussed relating to FIG. 20, any of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10, 110, 210, 310 described herein can utilize the varied configurations of optional hinge guards 148 as just described, such as the locations 148′, for the respective hinge guards 48, 148, 248, 348.

[0211] In the embodiment of FIG. 20, hooks 162 are attached to some of the support bows 150. Preferably, hooks 162 are located adjacent each end of each of the support bows 150d and 150g, and are aligned with catches 164 which are attached to the side rails 120a and 120b as illustrated. As further described below (see also FIGS. 33-34), when the folding cover assembly 130 is in place covering the cargo box 5, the hooks 162 are engaged with the catches 164 and help to secure the folding cover assembly 130 to the side rails 120a and 120b. When a panel 130 is rotated upward, the hooks 162 disengage from the catches 164, allowing the panel to be rotated and stacked onto other panels 130, as shown below. Preferably, the hooks 162 slide into the support bows 150 and are secured in position. The hooks 162 can be secured by an interference fit with the support bows 150, but other securement mechanisms can be utilized, such as screws or other fasteners or adhesives known in the art, or a combination of securement mechanisms. Preferably, the hook 162 slide into the respective support bow 150 and is secured using a #8 self-tapping screw. In various embodiments disclosed herein, hooks and catches such as hooks 162 and catches 164 are located along selected support bows 150, 250, 350. In the embodiment of FIG. 20, hooks 162c and 162d are located near the driver's side end and passenger side end, respectively, of support bow 150d (near the front of the middle panel 136b); hooks 162g and 162h are located near the driver's side end and passenger side end, respectively, of support bow 150g (near the front of the front panel 136c). Together, the various latches 152 and hooks 162 engage the catches 164 and the side rails 120a and 120b to secure the folding cover assembly 130 to the side rails 120a and 120b and thereby to the cargo box 5 in order to cover the cargo box 5 when desired, but can be disengaged as described herein to open the folding cover assembly 130 to enter the cargo box 5 when desired.

[0212] Referring now to FIGS. 21A and 21B, the release cord 154a near the rear end of the rear panel 136a passes through cord guides 156, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 21B is an enlarged partial section view of the driver's side end portion of the support bow 150a as indicated on FIG. 21A. A standoff 158 can be seen in FIG. 21A, similar to standoff 58 described above.

[0213] As seen in FIG. 21B, the latch 152 includes latch slide 153 having a engaging portion 153b which extends forward to engage the lip 124 of the side rail 120a, so as to secure the respective panel 136a to the side rail 120a. The latch slide 153 preferably includes a stiff polymer, composite, or metal, although other materials and combinations can be used. Preferably, the latch slide 153 includes fiberglass-reinforced nylon. The latch slide 153 is biased by a biasing member or spring 168 towards the side rail 120a so that the engaging portion 153b engages the side rail 120a to form a secured configuration in which the respective panel 136 is restricted from being lifted up from the cargo box 5; in this example, the spring 168 is a compression spring, but an extension spring, or an elastic element, or other known elements could alternatively be used to bias the latch slide 153 towards the side rail 120a so that the engaging portion 153b engages the side rail 120a so that the latch 152 is in the secured configuration. In this embodiment, the spring 168 is held between the latch slide 153 and a spring retainer 170. In this example, the spring retainer 170 includes square nuts 172a and a retainer bolt 172b; in assembly, the spring retainer 170 can be inserted into the support bow 150a and by rotating the retainer bolt 172b with respect to the square nuts 172a, the upper end of the retainer bolt 172b presses against the bow top portion 174a of the support bow 150a while the square nuts press against the bow bottom portion 174b of the support bow 150a, fixing the spring retainer 170 in the desired location in the support bow 150a. The side rails 120a and 120b preferably include extruded metal, and have an side rail engagement portion 122a (FIG. 21B), arranged to approximate a portion of the sidewall 6a, 6b of the pickup truck 2. A clamp 114 is shown in detail in FIG. 21B, similar to clamp 14 illustrated in FIG. 3B. Clamps 114 preferably include aluminum, although other metals or alloys or polymers or other composite materials can be used. Clamps 114 as illustrated have an outer member 116a and an inner member 116b which are tightened towards each other and held as an assembly on the sidewall 6a by a fastener assembly 116d which typically includes a bolt 116e, a washer 116f, and a nut 116g. Preferably, inner member 116b has a clamp engagement portion 116c which, together with side rail engagement portion 122a of side rail 120a, aids in securing the clamps 114 in place on the side rail 120a. Preferably, the clamps 114 are arranged and tightened to secure the side rail 120a to the sidewall 6a, with a sidewall gasket 176 arranged between the side rail 120a and the sidewall 6a as illustrated. A bow end cap 178 is located at the end of the support bow 150a. A release cord 154 passes through a cord guide 156 as shown. In the present example, the side rail engagement portion 122a is a generally vertically-oriented portion which configured to be located adjacent a similarly vertically-oriented portion of the sidewall 6a, 6b. In the example of FIG. 21B, a portion of the sidewall 6a of a cargo box 5 of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck is illustrated; however, other sidewalls of other cargo boxes of other pickup trucks and the like can be accommodated, by incorporating a side rail engagement portion 122a along the length of the side rails 120a and 120b that are appropriately configured and oriented. In this example, the cargo box 5 of the pickup truck 2 includes a sidewall cap 6e, but other cargo boxes 5 lack a sidewall cap. Preferably, the side rail engagement portion 122a has a side rail engagement feature 122b, such as ridges, knurling, surface patterns or textures, or other features which aid in securing the clamps 114. Preferably, a sidewall gasket 122c is located between the side rail engagement portion 122a and the sidewall 6a; the sidewall gasket 122c can provide protection against damage to the sidewall 6a by abrasion against the side rail 120a. The sidewall gasket 122c can provide leak resistance to prevent water, dust, or other debris from passing into the cargo box 5 along the side rail engagement portion 122a. The side rail 120a has a flange or side rail lip 124 along the length of the side rail 120a. The side rail lip 124 provides support for the folding cover assembly 130. In addition, the side rail lip 124 provides a feature for engagement of the engaging portion 153b of the latches 152. The driver's side portion of the support bow 150a is shown in FIG. 21B; the other end of the support bow 150a (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, with a latch 152 engaging side rail 120b, and side rail 120b being attached to sidewall 6b in a similar manner.

[0214] Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate that when it is desired to release the latches 152 at the rear end of the rear panel 136a, the release cord 154a is pulled to retract the latches 152 against the force of the biasing member or spring 168. Preferably, the release cord 154a will be pulled as illustrated, by a driver (not shown) who has walked to the rear of the cargo box 5 and has opened the tailgate 6d and reaches in to pull the release cord 154a, preferably in the segment 160b. When the release cord 154a is pulled, the engaging portion 153b of the latch 152 is retracted away from the lip 124 of the side rail 120a as shown in FIG. 22B, releasing the latch 152 from the side rail 120a and allowing the rear portion of the rear panel 136a to be lifted up from the side rail 120a. The cord guides 156 adjacent to the latches 152 help to maintain alignment of the ends of the release cord 154a so that the latches 152 are retracted in alignment with the support bow 150a, to avoid excessive friction, wear and potential binding. The driver's side portion of the support bow 150a is shown in FIG. 22B; the other end of the support bow 150a (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, and when the release cord 154a is pulled, the latches 152 at both ends of the support bow 150a are retracted, so that the rear end of the rear panel 136a can be lifted up from both side rails 120a and 120b.

[0215] When the latches 152 near the rear end of the rear panel 136a are retracted and the rear end of the rear panel 136a is lifted up from the side rails 120a and 120b, the rear panel 136a pivots upwards and frontwards, bending the hinge 144a as illustrated in FIG. 23.

[0216] FIG. 24A illustrates the rear panel 136a rotated further, onto the middle panel 136b, showing the release cord 154b visible and accessible to the operator. At this point, the latches 152 at each end of the support bow 150c are engaged with the side rail lip 124 of the side rails 120a and 120b. The driver's side portion of the support bow 150c is illustrated in FIG. 24B, which shows the latch 152c engaged with the side rail lip 124 of the side rail 120a, similar to the engagement illustrated in FIG. 21B. The side rail 120a is attached to the sidewall 6a as shown in FIG. 21B. The engaging portion 153b of latch slide 153 of latch 152c is engaged with the lip 124 of the side rail 120a, so as to secure the respective panel 136b to the side rail 120a. The driver's side portion of the support bow 150c is shown in this figure; the other end of the support bow 150c (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, with a latch 152d engaging side rail 120b, and side rail 120b being attached to sidewall 6b in a similar manner.

[0217] When it is desired to release the latches 152 at the rear end of the middle panel 136b, the release cord 154b is pulled as indicated in FIG. 25A by the driver or operator 8 (not shown) to retract the latches 152c, 152d against the force of the biasing member or spring 168. When the release cord 154b is pulled, the engaging portion 153b of the respective latches 152c, 152d are retracted away from the lips 124 of the side rail 120a, 120b. FIG. 25B illustrates the driver's side portion as indicated on FIG. 25A; when the release cord 154b is pulled, the engaging portion 153b of the latch 152c is retracted from the side rail 120a as shown. The driver's side portion of the support bow 150c is illustrated in FIG. 25B; the other end of the support bow 150c (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, and when the release cord 154b is pulled, the latches 152c, 152d at both ends of the support bow 150c are retracted, so that the rear end of the middle panel 136b can be lifted up from both side rails 120a and 120b, together with the rear panel 136a, as illustrated in FIG. 26A, bending hinge 144b.

[0218] With the middle panel 136b (including the rear panel 136a) raised and rotated as shown in FIG. 26A, hooks 162 disengage from catches 164; specifically, hook 162c disengages from catch 164c attached to side rail 120a, and hook 162d disengages from catch 164d attached to side rail 120b.

[0219] FIG. 26B is a detail view of a portion of the configuration of FIG. 26A as indicated on FIG. 26A. Catch 164c is seen attached to side rail 120a, and hook 162c is seen disengaged from catch 164c. The driver's side portion of the support bow 150c is illustrated in FIG. 25A; the other end of the support bow 150c (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration. With the middle panel 136b (including the rear panel 136a) raised and rotated as shown in FIG. 26A, hooks 162c and 162d disengage from catches 164c and 164d, respectively.

[0220] As the middle panel 136b, together with the rear panel 136a, is rotated further frontward towards the front panel 136c, bending the hinge 144b, the spacer panel 136d lifts and rotates frontward as well, bending the hinge 144c. The folding and rotating of the folding cover assembly 130 are similar to that illustrated for the folding cover assembly 30 as shown in FIGS. 8C-9A, as follows. With continued folding and rotating of the folding cover assembly 130, the standoffs 158 attached to the support bow 150a contact the top of the front panel 136c. With further rotating of the middle panel 136b (together with the front panel 136a) the hinge 144c bends and the spacer panel 136d lifts off the side rails 120a and 120b; with still further rotating of the middle panel 136b frontwards, together with the rear panel 136a and the spacer panel 136d, and pivoting and sliding of the standoffs 158, the middle panel 136b, the rear panel 136a, and the spacer panel 136d rotate progressively farther frontwards towards the front panel 136c, until the standoffs 158 attached to the support bow 150b also contact the front panel 136c, as illustrated in FIG. 27A. The standoffs 158 help to maintain a spaced relationship between the rear panel 136a and the front panel 136c. During this folding of the folding cover assembly 130, the hinges 144b and 144c flex as the middle panel 136b, the rear panel 136a, and the spacer panel 136d rotate towards the front panel 136c. Depending on forces applied by the driver or other operator 8, the hinges 144b and 144c can flex to pass through various increasing or decreasing angles.

[0221] FIG. 27A is a rear perspective view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 130 wherein the rear panel 136a together with the middle panel 136b and the spacer panel 136d has been rotated forward so that the middle panel 136b and the rear panel 136a are resting on the spacers 158 on top of the front panel 136c, and with the spacer panel 136d rotated upwards.

[0222] FIG. 27B is a partial section view as indicated on FIG. 27A illustrating the engaging portion 153b of the latch 152g on the driver's side of the rear support bow 150f of the front 136c panel engaged to the lip 124 of the side rail 120a and within the containment bracket 192a.

[0223] FIG. 28A is a front perspective view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 110 in the configuration of FIG. 27B; a storage strap 194a and a strap bracket 194b are seen along the middle panel 136b, with the storage strap 194a attached to the support bow 150c. A bracket slot 194c is seen in the front panel 136c. FIG. 28B is a front perspective view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 110 similar to the view of FIG. 28A but showing the storage strap 194a pulled down and engaged with a strap bracket 194b to a bracket slot 194c in the front panel 136c, securing the folding cover assembly 130 in the folded up configuration. The folding cover assembly 130 may be left in this folded and bundled configuration if desired. Alternatively, if it is desired to remove the folding cover assembly 130 to leave the cargo box 5 completely uncovered, the folding cover assembly 130 may be removed from the side rails 120a and 120b as follows.

[0224] FIG. 29A is a rear perspective view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 110 viewed from slightly below and to the driver's side of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 110, wherein the folding cover assembly 130 is secured in the folded up configuration similar to that of FIG. 28B, showing the release cord 154d for releasing the latches 152 on the front panel 136c pulled to release the latches 152g and 152h. To release the latches 152g and 152h, the release cord 154a is preferably pulled in the segment 160f, between the cord guides 156c and 156d.

[0225] FIG. 29B is partial section view as indicated on FIG. 29A showing the latch 152g near the driver's side end portion of the rear support bow 150f of the front panel 136c with the engaging portion 153b of the latch 152g retracted from the lip 124 of the side rail 120a and disengaged from the containment bracket 192a. The driver's side portion of the support bow 150f is illustrated in FIG. 29B; the other end of the support bow 150f (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, and when the release cord 154d is pulled, the latch slide 153 of the latches 152g, 152h at both ends of the support bow 150f are retracted, so that the rear end of the front panel 136c can be lifted up from both side rails 120a and 120b, together with the rear panel 136a and spacer panel 136d, as illustrated in FIG. 29C. With the front panel 136c, together with the middle panel 136b and the spacer panel 136d and the rear panel 136a raised and rotated as shown in FIG. 29C, hooks 162 at the front of the front panel 136c disengage from catches 164; specifically, hook 162g disengages from catch 164g attached to side rail 120a, and hook 162h disengages from catch 164h attached to side rail 120b.

[0226] In this configuration, with the hooks 162g and 162h disengaged from the catches 164g and 164h, respectively, the bundled folding cover assembly 130 is free from the side rails 120a and 120b can be lifted up and off the cargo box 5 in a similar manner as illustrated in FIG. 12 for the folding cover assembly 30, and can be moved away from the pickup truck 2, or stowed in the cargo box 5 or elsewhere as desired.

[0227] When it is desired to replace the folding cover assembly 130 on the cargo box 5, the various steps illustrated can be done in the reverse order, beginning with placing the bundled folding cover assembly 130 on the side rails 120a, 120b with the hooks 162g and 162h aligned with the catches 164g and 164h, respectively, similar to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 29C. The folding cover assembly 130 can be lowered onto the side rails 120a, 120b to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 28B. Alternatively, if it is desired to unfold the folding cover assembly 130 to cover the cargo box 5, the strap brackets 194b can be disengaged from the bracket slots 194c, and the folding cover assembly 130 can then be progressively unfolded as desired.

[0228] FIG. 30 shows a rear perspective view of another alternate folding tonneau cover apparatus 210 attached to a pickup truck which is shown in phantom.

[0229] FIG. 31 shows a bottom view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210 of FIG. 30.

[0230] Visible in this view are hinges 244, which are situated between adjacent panels 236 and adjoin adjacent panels 236. Each panel 236 has a top surface 237 and a bottom surface or underside 238; panel 236a has a top surface 237a and a bottom surface or underside 238a, panel 236b has a top surface 237b and a bottom surface or underside 238b, panel 236c has a top surface 237c and a bottom surface or underside 238c, panel 236d has a top surface 237d and a bottom surface or underside 238d. For ease of discussion, hinges 244 are specifically referenced herein as 244a-244c, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 244. Specifically, situated between the rear panel 236a and the middle panel 236b is hinge 244a. Similarly, situated between the middle panel 236b and the spacer panel 236d is hinge 244b, and situated between the spacer panel 236d and the front panel 236c is hinge 244c. Hinges 244 allow the folding cover assembly 230 to be folded up and will be more fully described below. Optional hinge guards 248 are shown;

[0231] hinge guards 248 provide additional support to the hinges 244 when the folding cover assembly 230 is unfolded and in place covering the cargo box 5 of truck 2 (FIG. 30). Hinge guards 248 also provide protection against slicing through the hinges 244; further description of the hinge guards 248 is provided below. Support bows 250 are attached to the panels 236 to provide additional support and rigidity to the panels 236, and also provide a structure for mounting of various other components as described in detail later herein. For ease of discussion, support bows 250 are specifically referenced herein as 250a-250g, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 250. The folding tonneau cover apparatus 210 is removably secured to the support frame assembly 218 by securing apparatus 251a. Preferably, securing apparatus 251a includes at least one locking member 251b which is engageable and disengageable from the support frame assembly 218. Preferably, the locking member 251b includes latches 252 which are located at the support bows as shown and secure the folding cover assembly 230 to the side rails 220a and 220b. Release cords 254 are attached to the latches 252. For ease of discussion, release cords 254 are specifically referenced herein as 254a and 254d, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 254. The release cords 254 pass through cord guides 256 which are attached to support bows 250 as shown. The cord guides are non-specifically or collectively referenced herein as 256, but cord guides 256a-256d are specifically referenced herein to facilitate the detailed description herein. Standoffs 258 are shown, and will be described in further detail below. Sidebars or handles 259 are attached to panels 236a, 236b, and 236c, near each side of each panel 236 to further support the panels 236. Perimeter seal 234 is located on the bottom 232b of the folding cover assembly 230 and is arranged to seal against the sidewalls 6a and 6b and the front wall 6c and the tailgate 6d of the cargo box 5; some portions of perimeter seal 234 are behind side rails 220a and 220b and not visible FIG. 31. The perimeter seal 234 is further described herein. Clamps 214 secure the side rails 220a and 220b to the sidewalls 6a and 6b of the cargo box 5 (see FIG. 36B).

[0232] The support bows or transverse frame members or channels 250 provide additional support for the panels 236. In this embodiment, the panels each have two support bows 250, one located near each of the front and rear ends of each panel 236, except for the spacer panel 236d, which has only a single support bow 250. In this embodiment, there are latches 252 mounted in pairs, one of each pair mounted near each end of each of the support bows 250a and 250f as shown. As further described below, the latches 252 engage the side rails 220a and 220b to secure the folding cover assembly 230, and can slide a short distance towards or away from the side rails 220a and 220b to engage or release the folding cover assembly 230 or selected panels 236 or portions thereof from the side rails 220a and 220b as further described below. In this embodiment, there are two latch release cords or release cords or cords 254, each of which are connected to opposing pairs of latches 252 which secure the panels 236 to the side rails 220a and 220b. The release cords 254 pass through cord guides 256 which are mounted to the support bows 250; the release cords 254 can slide within the cord guides 256. The release cords 254 generally extend from the latches 252 along the support bows 250. The release cords 254 can be actuated to release each pair of latches 252 by a driver or operator when desired, to open the folding cover assembly 230. Also seen on FIG. 31 are optional hinge guards 248; the optional hinge guards 248 are preferably attached to one of the support bows 250 adjacent to each of the respective hinges 244. In this example, the hinge guards 248 are shown attached to the support bows 250b, 250d, and 250f. The hinge guards 248 provide support for the hinges 244, such as to support weight or pressure applied to the hinges 244, the panels 236, or other portions of the folding cover assembly 230. The hinge guards 248 can also provide some protection against cutting through a hinge 244 to enter the cargo box 5.

[0233] In the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210, hooks 262 are attached to some of the support bows 250. Preferably, hooks 262 are located adjacent each end of each of the support bows 250b, 250d and 250g, and are aligned with respective catches 264 which are attached to the side rails 220a and 220b as illustrated. As further described below (see also FIGS. 33-34), when the folding cover assembly 230 is in place covering the cargo box 5, the hooks 262 are engaged with the catches 264 and help to secure the folding cover assembly 230 to the side rails 220a and 220b. When a panel 230 is rotated upward, the hooks 262 disengage from the catches 264, allowing the panel to be rotated and stacked onto other panels 230, as shown below. Preferably, the hooks slide into the support bows 250 and are secured in position; preferably, the hooks are secured by an interference fit with the support bows 250, but other securement mechanisms can be utilized, such as screws or other fasteners or adhesives known in the art, or a combination of securement mechanisms. In various embodiments disclosed herein, hooks and catches such as hooks 262 and catches 264 are located along selected support bows 150, 250, 350. In the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210, hooks 262a and 262b are located near the driver's side end and passenger side end, respectively, of support bow 250b (near the front end of the rear panel 236a), hooks 262c, 262d on support bow 250d (near the front end of the middle panel 236b); hooks 262g and 262h are located near the driver's side end and passenger side end, respectively, of support bow 250g (near the front of the front panel 236c). Together, the various latches 252 and hooks 262 engage the catches 264 and the side rails 220a and 220b to secure the folding cover assembly 230 to the side rails 220a and 220b and thereby to the cargo box 5 in order to cover the cargo box 5 when desired, but can be disengaged as described herein to open the folding cover assembly 230 to enter the cargo box 5 when desired.

[0234] FIG. 32 is a side view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210 of FIG. 30 as viewed from the driver's side, with the driver's-side side rail 220a removed to show the underlying structure. Clamps 214, latches 252, standoffs 258, hooks 262, catches 264, sidebars or handles 259, panels 236a, 236b, 236c, 236d, hinges 244a, 244b, 244c, and containment bracket 292a are shown.

[0235] FIG. 33 is a detail side view of a portion of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210 as viewed from line 33-33 as indicated on FIG. 30, with the driver's-side side rail 220a shown in phantom and the truck 2 removed to show the underlying structure, and showing in phantom an alternate position of the same portion of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210 in which the rear panel 236a has been lifted up and rotated frontward somewhat in the direction of the arrow so that the hook 262a is disengaged from the catch 264a. In FIG. 34, the rear panel 236a has been rotated completely forward onto the middle panel 236b, and the hook 262a is disengaged from the catch 264a, so the middle panel 236b is free to be lifted up if desired. The other hooks and catches, including hooks 162, 262, 362 and catches 164, 264, 364, described herein function in a similar manner as hook 262a and catch 264a just described.

[0236] The operation of the latches 252 and the hooks 262 and catches 264 of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210 are similar to those described for latches 152, hooks 162 and catches 264 of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 110, with corresponding parts having similar structure and function. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 30, the each latch 252 includes a latch slide 253 having a engaging portion 253b which extends forward to engage the lip 224 of the side rail2 220a, 220b so as to secure the rear panel 236a to the side rails 220a, 22b, similar to the structure illustrated in FIGS. 21A-21B. The latch slide 253 is biased by a biasing member or spring 268 towards the respective side rail 220 so that the engaging portion 253b engages the side rail 220 to form a secured configuration in which the respective panel 236 is restricted from being lifted up from the cargo box 5; in this example, the spring 268 is a compression spring, but an extension spring, or an elastic element, or other known elements could alternatively be used to bias the latch slide 253 towards the side rail 220 so that the engaging portion 253b engages the side rail 220 so that the latch 152 is in the secured configuration. In this embodiment, the spring 268 is held between the latch slide 253 and a spring retainer 270. In this example, the spring retainer 270 includes square nuts 272a and a retainer bolt 272b; in assembly, the spring retainer 270 can be inserted into the support bow 250a and by rotating the retainer bolt 272b with respect to the square nuts 272a, the upper end of the retainer bolt 272b presses against the bow top portion 274a of the support bow 250a while the square nuts press against the bow bottom portion 274b of the support bow 250a, fixing the spring retainer 270 in the desired location in the support bow 250a. The side rails 220a and 220b preferably include extruded metal, and have a side rail engagement portion 222a (FIG. 36B), arranged to approximate a portion of the sidewall 6a, 6b of the pickup truck 2. A clamp 214 is shown in detail in FIG. 36B, similar to clamp 14 illustrated in FIG. 3B. Clamps 214 are preferably cut from an aluminum extrusion, although other metals or alloys or polymers or other composite materials can be used. Clamps 214 as illustrated have an outer member 216a and an inner member 216b which are tightened towards each other and held as an assembly on the sidewall 6a by a fastener assembly 216d which typically includes a bolt 216e, a washer 216f, and a nut 216g. Preferably, inner member 216b has a clamp engagement portion 216c which, together with side rail engagement portion 222a of side rail 220a, aids in securing the clamps 214 in place on the side rail 220a. Preferably, the clamps 214 are arranged and tightened to secure the side rail 220a to the sidewall 6a, with a sidewall gasket 276 arranged between the side rail 220a and the sidewall 6a as illustrated. A bow end cap 278 is located at the end of the support bow 250a. In the present example, the side rail engagement portion 222a is a generally vertically-oriented portion which configured to be located adjacent a similarly vertically-oriented portion of the sidewall 6a, 6b. In the example of FIG. 36B, a portion of the sidewall 6a of a cargo box 5 of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck is illustrated; however, other sidewalls of other cargo boxes of other pickup trucks and the like can be accommodated, by incorporating a side rail engagement portion 222a along the length of the side rails 220a and 220b that are appropriately configured and oriented. In this example, the cargo box 5 of the pickup truck 2 includes a sidewall cap 6e, but other cargo boxes 5 lack a sidewall cap. Preferably, the side rail engagement portion 222a has a side rail engagement feature 222b, such as ridges, knurling, surface patterns or textures, or other features which aid in securing the clamps 214. Preferably, a sidewall gasket 222c is located between the side rail engagement portion 222a and the sidewall 6a; the sidewall gasket 222c can provide protection against damage to the sidewall 6a by abrasion against the side rail 220a. The sidewall gasket 222c can provide leak resistance to prevent water, dust, or other debris from passing into the cargo box 5 along the side rail engagement portion 222a. The side rail 220a has a flange or side rail lip 224 along the length of the side rail 220a. The side rail lip 224 provides support for the folding cover assembly 230. In addition, the side rail lip 224 provides a feature for engagement of the engaging portion 253b of the latches 252. The driver's side portion of the support bow 250f is shown in FIG. 36B; the other end of the support bow 250f (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, with a latch 252 engaging side rail 220b, and side rail 220b being attached to sidewall 6b in a similar manner.

[0237] Similar to the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 and the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10, when it is desired to release the latches 252 at the rear end of the rear panel 236a, the release cord 254a is pulled to retract the latches 252 against the force of the biasing member or spring 268. Preferably, the release cord 254a will be pulled as illustrated, by a driver (not shown) who has walked to the rear of the cargo box 5 and has opened the tailgate 6d and reaches in to pull the release cord 254a. When the release cord 254a is pulled, the engaging portion 253b of the latch 252 at the driver's-side end of the support bow 250a is retracted away from the lip 224 of the side rail 220a, releasing the latch 252 from the side rail 220a. The cord guides 256 adjacent to the latches 252 help to maintain alignment of the ends of the release cord 254a so that the latches 252 are retracted in alignment with the support bow 250a, to avoid excessive friction, wear and potential binding. The passenger-side end of the support bow 250a has a mirror-image configuration to that just described for the driver's-side end of the support bow 250a, and when the release cord 254a is pulled, the latches 252 at both ends of the support bow 250a are retracted, so that the rear end of the rear panel 236a can be lifted up from both side rails 220a and 220b. The hinge 244a bends to accommodate the lifting up and pivoting frontward of the rear panel 136a, as illustrated in FIG. 35A. FIG. 35B illustrates the rear panel 236a rotated further, onto the middle panel 236b. With the rear panel 236a rotated back onto the middle panel 236b as shown in FIG. 35B, hooks 262 at the ends of the support bow 250 at the front of the rear panel disengage from the respective catches 264; specifically, hook 262a disengages from catch 264a attached to side rail 220a, and hook 262b disengages from catch 264b attached to side rail 220b. In this configuration, the rear portion of the middle panel 236b is free to be lifted up when desired by a driver or operator.

[0238] FIG. 35C illustrates the middle panel 236b together with the rear panel 236a lifted up and rotated frontward towards the front panel 236c. With the middle panel 236b lifted up and rotated frontward, hooks 262 at the ends of the support bow 250 at the front of the middle panel 236b disengage from the respective catches 264;

[0239] specifically, hook 262c disengages from catch 264c attached to side rail 220a, and hook 262d disengages from catch 264d attached to side rail 220b. In this configuration, the rear portion of the middle panel 236b is free to be lifted up when desired by a driver or operator.

[0240] As the middle panel 236b, together with the rear panel 236a, is rotated further frontward towards the front panel 236c, bending the hinge 244b, the spacer panel 236d lifts and rotates frontward as well, bending the hinge 244c. The folding and rotating of the folding cover assembly 230 are similar to that illustrated for the folding cover assembly 30 as shown in FIGS. 8C-9A, as follows. With continued folding and rotating of the folding cover assembly 230, the standoffs 258 attached to the support bow 250a contact the top of the front panel 236c. With further rotating of the middle panel 236b (together with the front panel 236a) the hinge 244c bends and the spacer panel 236d lifts off the side rails 220a and 220b; with still further rotating of the middle panel 236b frontwards, together with the rear panel 236a and the spacer panel 236d, and pivoting and sliding of the standoffs 258, the middle panel 236b, the rear panel 236a, and the spacer panel 236d rotate progressively farther frontwards towards the front panel 236c, until the standoffs 258 attached to the support bow 250b also contact the front panel 236c, as illustrated in FIG. 36A. The standoffs 258 help to maintain a spaced relationship between the rear panel 236a and the front panel 236c. During this folding of the folding cover assembly 230, the hinges 244b and 244c flex as the middle panel 236b, the rear panel 236a, and the spacer panel 236d rotate towards the front panel 236c. Depending on forces applied by the driver or other operator 8, the hinges 244b and 244c can flex to pass through various increasing or decreasing angles.

[0241] FIG. 36A is a rear perspective view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 230 wherein the rear panel 236a together with the middle panel 236b and the spacer panel 236d has been rotated forward so that the middle panel 236b and the rear panel 236a are resting on the spacers 258 on top of the front panel 236c, and with the spacer panel 236d rotated upwards.

[0242] FIG. 36B is a partial section view as indicated on FIG. 36A illustrating the engaging portion 253b of the latch 252g on the driver's side of the rear support bow 250f of the front 236c panel engaged to the lip 224 of the side rail 220a and within the containment bracket 292a.

[0243] When desired, the storage strap 294a is preferably pulled down and engaged with a strap bracket 294b to a bracket slot 294c in the front panel 236c, securing the folding cover assembly 230 in the folded up configuration in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 28A-28B for the folding cover assembly 130. The folding cover assembly 230 may be left in this folded and bundled configuration if desired. Alternatively, if it is desired to remove the folding cover assembly 230 to leave the cargo box 5 completely uncovered, the folding cover assembly 230 may be removed from the side rails 220a and 220b in the same manner as that illustrated in FIGS. 29A-29C, as follows.

[0244] FIG. 37A is a rear perspective view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210 viewed from slightly below and to the driver's side of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 210, wherein the folding cover assembly 230 is secured in the folded up configuration similar to that of FIG. 28B for folding cover assembly 130, with the release cord 254d for releasing the latches 252 on the front panel 236c pulled to release the latches 252g and 252h.

[0245] FIG. 37B is partial section view as indicated on FIG. 37A showing the latch 252g near the driver's side end portion of the rear support bow 250f of the front panel 236c with the engaging portion 253b of the latch 252g retracted from the lip 224 of the side rail 220a and disengaged from the containment bracket 292a. The driver's side portion of the support bow 250f is illustrated in FIG. 37B; the other end of the support bow 250f (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, and when the release cord 254d is pulled, the latch slide 253 of the latches 252g, 252h at both ends of the support bow 250f are retracted, so that the rear end of the front panel 236c can be lifted up from both side rails 220a and 220b, together with the rear panel 236a and spacer panel 236d. With the front panel 236c, preferably bundled together with the middle panel 236b and the spacer panel 236d and the rear panel 236a and raised and rotated similar to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 29C for the folding tonneau cover apparatus 110, hooks 262 at the front of the front panel 236c disengage from catches 264; specifically, hook 262g disengages from catch 264g attached to side rail 220a, and hook 262h disengages from catch 264h attached to side rail 220b.

[0246] In this configuration, with the hooks 262g and 262h disengaged from the catches 264g and 264h, respectively, the bundled folding cover assembly 230 is free from the side rails 220a and 220b can be lifted up and off the cargo box 5 in a similar manner as illustrated in FIG. 12 for the folding cover assembly 30, and can be moved away from the pickup truck 2, or stowed in the cargo box 5 or elsewhere as desired.

[0247] When it is desired to replace the folding cover assembly 230 on the cargo box 5, the various steps illustrated can be done in the reverse order, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 38, beginning with (1) placing the bundled folding cover assembly 230 on the side rails 220 with the hooks 162 at the front of the front panel 236c aligned with the respective catches 164 on the respective side rails 220; (2) lowering the folding cover assembly 230 onto the side rails 220 until the latches 250 at the rear of the front panel 236c are engaged with the side rail lip 224 of the respective side rails 220 and the containment brackets 92. The bundled folding cover assembly 230 can be left secured in this configuration, or if it is desired to unfold the folding cover assembly 230 to cover the cargo box 5, the strap brackets 294b can be disengaged from the bracket slots 294c, and (3) the middle panel 236b can be rotated rearward onto the side rails 220, with the hooks 262 at the front of the middle panel 236b engaging the respective catches 264, and (4) the rear panel 236a can be rotated rearward onto the side rails 220, with the hooks 262 at the front of the rear panel 236a engaging the respective catches 264 and the latches 250 at the rear of the rear panel 236a are engaged with the side rail lip 224 of the respective side rails 220.

[0248] FIGS. 39A-39D illustrate further advantages to the structure described herein of hinge 44, 144, 244, 344. The hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 as described is low profile, reducing the overall thickness, bulk, and weight of the folding cover assembly 30, 130, 230, 330. The flexible sheet material 80 can tolerate some deformation, so that if adjacent panels 36, 136, 236, 336 are not aligned perfectly, or are not perfectly flat, the hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 can still function to allow the folding cover assembly 30, 120, 230, 330 to fold without binding. The configuration disclosed herein of hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 can accommodate panels 36, 136, 236, 336, some of which are preferably slightly bowed as described herein and illustrated in FIG. 16E. FIG. 39A is a schematic illustration of a portion of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10, 110, 210, 310 showing a respective flexible hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 interconnecting two respective adjacent panels 36, 136, 236, 336, showing bent or bowed support bows creating a bending or bowing of the panels attached thereto (see also FIGS. 16B-16E), with the bending or bowing exaggerated for illustration, with the panels 36, 136, 236, 336 unfolded. FIG. 39B is a schematic illustration similar to that of FIG. 39A, showing the two respective adjacent panels 36, 136, 236, 336 folded up (in the direction indicated by the arrow. FIGS. 39A-39B illustrate how the flexible hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 can accommodate the folding up and unfolding of such bent or bowed panels 36, 136, 236, 336.

[0249] FIG. 39C is a schematic illustration of a portion of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10, 110, 210, 310 showing a respective flexible hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 interconnecting two respective adjacent panels 36, 136, 236, 336, showing the two respective adjacent panels 36, 136, 236, 336 folded up with the two respective panels generally aligned with each other, with the flexible hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 flexing generally about a first axis X1. FIG. 39D is a schematic illustration similar to that of FIG. 39C, but showing the two respective adjacent panels 36, 136, 236, 336 somewhat misaligned or skewed with respect to each other and the flexible hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 flexing generally about a second axis X2. FIGS. 39C-39D illustrate how the flexible hinge 44, 144, 244, 344 can accommodate the folding up and unfolding of such panels respective panels 36, 136, 236, 336 which are aligned differently or misaligned. The gap 41 between adjacent panels (See FIG. 2A) will affect the magnitude of panel misalignment or panel bowing which can be accommodated by the flexible hinge 44.

[0250] FIG. 40 is a rear perspective view of a further alternate folding tonneau cover apparatus 310 incorporating an external actuator mechanism 395 to release the latches 352 at the front of the front panel 336c, with the folding tonneau cover apparatus 310 attached to a pickup truck 2 which is shown in phantom.

[0251] FIG. 41 is a bottom plan view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 310 of FIG. 40.

[0252] Visible in this view are hinges 344, which are situated between adjacent panels 336 and adjoin adjacent panels 336. Each panel 336 has a top surface 337 and a bottom surface or underside 338; panel 336a has a top surface 337a and a bottom surface or underside 338a, panel 336b has a top surface 337b and a bottom surface or underside 338b, panel 336c has a top surface 337c and a bottom surface or underside 338c, panel 336d has a top surface 337d and a bottom surface or underside 338d. For ease of discussion, hinges 344 are specifically referenced herein as 344a-344c, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 344. Specifically, situated between the rear panel 336a and the middle panel 336b is hinge 344a. Similarly, situated between the middle panel 336b and the spacer panel 336d is hinge 344b, and situated between the spacer panel 336d and the front panel 336c is hinge 344c. Hinges 344 allow the folding cover assembly 330 to be folded up and will be more fully described below. Optional hinge guards 348 are shown; hinge guards 348 provide additional support to the hinges 344 when the folding cover assembly 330 is unfolded and in place covering the cargo box 5 of truck 2 (FIG. 40). Hinge guards 348 also provide protection against slicing through the hinges 344; further description of the hinge guards 348 is provided herein. Support bows 350 are attached to the panels 336 to provide additional support and rigidity to the panels 336, and also provide a structure for mounting of various other components as described in detail herein. For ease of discussion, support bows 350 are specifically referenced herein as 350a-350g, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 350. The folding tonneau cover apparatus 310 is removably secured to the support frame assembly 318 by securing apparatus 351a. Preferably, securing apparatus 351a includes at least one locking member 351b which is engageable and disengageable from the support frame assembly 318. Preferably, the locking member 351b includes latches 352 which are located at the support bows as shown and secure the folding cover assembly 330 to the side rails 320a and 320b. Release cords 354 are attached to the latches 352. For ease of discussion, release cords 354 are specifically referenced herein as 354a, 354b, and 354e, and non-specifically or collectively referenced as 354. In this embodiment, the release cord 354e at the front of the front panel 336c preferably includes 2 separate segments or release cords referenced as 354ea, 354eb. The release cords 354 pass through cord guides 356 which are attached to support bows 350 as shown. The cord guides are non-specifically or collectively referenced herein as 356, but cord guides 356a-356d are specifically referenced herein to facilitate the detailed description herein. Standoffs 358 are shown, and are described in further detail herein. Sidebars or handles 359 are attached to panels 336a, 336b, and 336c, near each side of each panel 336 to further support the panels 336. Perimeter seal 334 is located on the bottom 332b of the folding cover assembly 330 and is arranged to seal against the sidewalls 6a and 6b and the front wall 6c and the tailgate 6d of the cargo box 5; some portions of perimeter seal 334 are behind side rails 320a and 320b and not visible in FIG. 41. The perimeter seal 334 is further described herein. Clamps 314 secure the side rails 320a and 320b to the sidewalls 6a and 6b of the cargo box 5 (see FIG. 43B).

[0253] The support bows or transverse frame members or channels 350 provide additional support for the panels 336. In this embodiment, the panels each have two support bows 350, one located near each of the front and rear ends of each panel 336, except for the spacer panel 336d, which has only a single support bow 350. In this embodiment, there are latches 352 mounted in pairs, one of each pair mounted near each end of each of the support bows 350a, 350b and 350f as shown. As further described below, the latches 352 engage the side rails 320a and 320b to secure the folding cover assembly 330, and can slide a short distance towards or away from the side rails 320a and 320b to engage or release the folding cover assembly 330 or selected panels 336 or portions thereof from the side rails 320a and 320b as further described below. In this embodiment, latch release cord or release cord or cord 354a is connected to the opposing pair of latches 352a, 2352b and release cord 354b is connected to opposing pair of latches 352c, 352d, and a pair of release cords 354ea, 354eb, each of which are connected to latches 352i, 352j, respectively, which together form an opposed pair of latches 352. The release cords 354 pass through cord guides 356 which are mounted to the support bows 350; the release cords 354 can slide within the cord guides 356. The release cords 354 generally extend from the latches 352 along the support bows 350. The release cords 354 can be actuated to release each pair of latches 352 by a driver or operator when desired, to open the folding cover assembly 330. Also seen on FIG. 41 are optional hinge guards 348; the optional hinge guards 348 are preferably attached to one of the support bows 350 adjacent to each of the respective hinges 344. In this example, the hinge guards 348 are shown attached to the support bows 350b, 350d, and 50f. The hinge guards 348 provide support for the hinges 344, such as to support weight or pressure applied to the hinges 344, the panels 336, or other portions of the folding cover assembly 330. The hinge guards 348 can also provide some protection against cutting through a hinge 344 to enter the cargo box 5.

[0254] In the folding tonneau cover apparatus 310, hooks 362 are attached to some of the support bows 350. Preferably, hooks 362 are located adjacent each end of each of the support bows 350d and 350f, and are aligned with respective catches 364 which are attached to the side rails 320a and 320b as illustrated. As further described below (see also FIGS. 33-34), when the folding cover assembly 330 is in place covering the cargo box 5, the hooks 362 are engaged with the catches 364 and help to secure the folding cover assembly 330 to the side rails 320a and 320b. When a panel 330 is rotated upward, the hooks 362 disengage from the catches 364, allowing the panel to be rotated and stacked onto other panels 330, as shown below. Preferably, the hooks slide into the support bows 350 and are secured in position; preferably, the hooks are secured by an interference fit with the support bows 350, but other securement mechanisms can be utilized, such as screws or other fasteners or adhesives known in the art, or a combination of securement mechanisms. In various embodiments disclosed herein, hooks and catches such as hooks 362 and catches 364 are located along selected support bows 150, 250, 350. In the folding tonneau cover apparatus 310, hooks 362c and 362d are located near the driver's side end and passenger side end, respectively, of support bow 350b (near the front end of the rear panel 336a), and hooks 362e and 362f on support bow 350f (near the rear end of the front panel 336c). Together, the various latches 352 and hooks 362 engage the catches 364 and the side rails 320a and 320b to secure the folding cover assembly 330 to the side rails 320a and 320b and thereby to the cargo box 5 in order to cover the cargo box 5 when desired, but can be disengaged as described herein to open the folding cover assembly 330 to enter the cargo box 5 when desired. In this embodiment, hooks 362e and 362f are oriented opposite the other hooks 162, 262, 362 described herein, and provide for engaging and disengaging the respective catches 364 when the front panel 336c is lifted up and rotated rearward to open the front panel 336c or rotated forward and down to close the front panel 336c. The containment brackets 392a, 392b are shown, and help to secure the folding cover assembly 330 in position on the side rails 320a, 320b especially when the folding cover assembly 330 is in a folded configuration such as those illustrated in FIG. 49A, 49B, or 50. Similarly, the containment brackets 392a′, 392b′ are shown, and help to secure the folding cover assembly 330 in position on the side rails 320a, 320b especially when the folding cover assembly 330 is in a folded configurations such as those illustrated in FIG. 44A, 45, or 46. Note that in FIG. 41 the containment brackets 392a′, 392b′ are shown in phantom indicating that in some alternate embodiments the containment brackets 392a′, 392b′ are not required. Preferably, the tonneau cover apparatus 310 includes containment brackets 392a, 392b, 392a′ and 392b′.

[0255] FIG. 42 is a side view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 310 of FIG. 40 as viewed from the driver's side, with the driver's-side side rail 320a removed to show the underlying structure. Clamps 314, latches 352, standoffs 358, hooks 362, catches 364, sidebars or handles 359, panels 336a, 336b, 336c, 336d, hinges 344a, 344b, 344c, and containment brackets 392a, 392a′ are shown.

[0256] Similar to the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10 and the folding tonneau cover apparatus 10, when it is desired to release the latches 352 at the rear end of the rear panel 336a, the release cord 354a is pulled to retract the latches 352 against the force of the biasing member or spring 368. Preferably, the release cord 354a will be pulled as illustrated, by a driver (not shown) who has walked to the rear of the cargo box 5 and has opened the tailgate 6d and reaches in to pull the release cord 354a. When the release cord 354a is pulled, the engaging portion 353b of the latch 352 at the driver's-side end of the support bow 350a is retracted away from the lip 324 of the side rail 320a, releasing the latch 352 from the side rail 320a. The cord guides 356 adjacent to the latches 352 help to maintain alignment of the ends of the release cord 354a so that the latches 352 are retracted in alignment with the support bow 350a, to avoid excessive friction, wear and potential binding. The passenger-side end of the support bow 350a has a mirror-image configuration to that just described for the driver's-side end of the support bow 350a, and when the release cord 354a is pulled, the latches 352 at both ends of the support bow 350a are retracted, so that the rear end of the rear panel 336a can be lifted up from both side rails 320a and 320b. The hinge 344a bends to accommodate the lifting up and pivoting frontward of the rear panel 136a.

[0257] FIG. 43A illustrates the rear panel 336a rotated onto the middle panel 336b, showing the release cord 354b visible and accessible to the operator. At this point, the latches 352 at each end of the support bow 350c are engaged with the side rail lip 324 of the side rails 320a and 320b. The driver's side portion of the support bow 350c is illustrated in FIG. 43B, which shows the latch 352c engaged with the side rail lip 324 of the side rail 320a. The side rail 320a is attached to the sidewall 6a. The engaging portion 353b of latch slide 353 of latch 352c is engaged with the lip 324 of the side rail 320a and the containment bracket 392a, so as to secure the respective panel 336b to the side rail 320a. The driver's side portion of the support bow 350c is shown in this figure; the other end of the support bow 350c (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, with a latch 352d engaging side rail 320b, and side rail 320b being attached to sidewall 6b in a similar manner.

[0258] When it is desired to release the latches 352 at the rear end of the middle panel 336b, the release cord 354b is pulled as indicated in FIG. 44A by the driver or operator 8 (not shown) to retract the latches 352c, 352d against the force of the biasing member or spring 368. When the release cord 354b is pulled, the engaging portion 353b of the respective latches 352c, 352d are retracted away from the lips 324 of the side rail 320a, 320b. FIG. 44B illustrates the driver's side portion as indicated on FIG. 44A; when the release cord 354b is pulled, the engaging portion 353b of the latch 352c is retracted from the side rail 320a as shown. The driver's side portion of the support bow 350c is illustrated in FIG. 44B; the other end of the support bow 350c (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, and when the release cord 354b is pulled, the latches 352c, 352d at both ends of the support bow 350c are retracted, so that the rear end of the middle panel 336b can be lifted up from both side rails 320a and 320b, together with the rear panel 336a, as illustrated in FIG. 45, bending hinge 344b.

[0259] With the middle panel 336b (including the rear panel 336a) raised and rotated as shown in FIG. 45, hooks 362 disengage from catches 364; specifically, hook 362c disengages from catch 364c attached to side rail 320a, and hook 362d disengages from catch 364d attached to side rail 320b.

[0260] As the middle panel 336b, together with the rear panel 336a, is rotated further frontward towards the front panel 336c, bending the hinge 344b, the spacer panel 336d lifts and rotates frontward as well, bending the hinge 344c. The folding and rotating of the folding cover assembly 330 are similar to that illustrated for the folding cover assembly 30 as shown in FIGS. 8C-9A, as follows. With continued folding and rotating of the folding cover assembly 330, the standoffs 358 attached to the support bow 350a contact the top of the front panel 336c. With further rotating of the middle panel 336b (together with the front panel 336a) the hinge 344c bends and the spacer panel 336d lifts off the side rails 320a and 320b; with still further rotating of the middle panel 336b frontwards, together with the rear panel 336a and the spacer panel 336d, and pivoting and sliding of the standoffs 358, the middle panel 336b, the rear panel 336a, and the spacer panel 336d rotate progressively farther frontwards towards the front panel 336c, until the standoffs 358 attached to the support bow 350b also contact the front panel 336c, as illustrated in FIG. 46. The standoffs 358 help to maintain a spaced relationship between the rear panel 336a and the front panel 336c. During this folding of the folding cover assembly 330, the hinges 344b and 344c flex as the middle panel 336b, the rear panel 336a, and the spacer panel 336d rotate towards the front panel 336c. Depending on forces applied by the driver or other operator 8, the hinges 344b and 344c can flex to pass through various increasing or decreasing angles.

[0261] The folding cover assembly 330 can be folded up onto the front panel 336c as just described. However, the folding cover assembly 330 also accommodates folding up in a different manner, as follows. FIG. 47A is a rear perspective view of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 310, similar to the illustration of FIG. 43A, in which the rear panel has been lifted up and rotated completely forward onto the middle panel. In this configuration, however, the external actuator mechanism 395 includes a handle or quarter-turn handle or release handle 396 which has been rotated as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 47A. Rotation of the release handle 396 as shown actuates a release mechanism 397 (FIGS. 47B-48B, which pulls release cords 354ea, 354eb to retract the latch slide 353 of the respective latches 352i, 352j, respectively to disengage the respective engaging portion 353b from the lip 324 of the respective side rail 320a, 320b.

[0262] FIGS. 47B and 47C are a perspective views from above of a portion of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 310, showing a portion of an external actuator mechanism 395 which includes the release handle 396 and the release mechanism 397 which are connected to the release cords 354ea, 354eb which are attached to the latch slide 353 of the latches 352i, 352j at the front of the front panel 336c. Similarly, FIGS. 48A and 48B are a perspective view from below of a similar portion of the folding tonneau cover apparatus 310. In FIGS. 47B-48B, the driver's side portion of the support bow 350g is shown, including latch 352i; the other end of the support bow 350g (toward the passenger side) has a mirror-image configuration, including the latch 352j. FIGS. 47B and 48A show the latched configuration in which the engaging portion 353b of the latch slide 353 of the latch 352i is engaged with the side rail 320a, with the front panel 336c shown in phantom to illustrate the underlying structure. In this latched configuration, the biasing member or spring 368 urges the latch slide 353 of each respective latch 352i, 352j outward so that the engaging portion 353b engages the lip 324 of the respective side rails 320a, 320b; the biasing member or spring 368 also creates tension in the release cords 354ea, 354eb which urges the release handle 396 to rotate (in this example, in a clockwise direction when viewed from above) towards a latched orientation.

[0263] FIG. 47C and 48B show the released configuration, in which the release handle 396 is rotated (in this example, in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above) by a driver or other operator 8. Rotation of the release handle 396 actuates the release mechanism 397 which pulls the release cords 354ea, 354eb to retract latch slide 353 and disengage the engaging portion 353b of the latches 352i, 352j from the lip 324 of the respective side rails 320a, 320b. The release mechanism 397 can be purely a mechanical mechanism, or can include an optional electric actuator 397a. The electric actuator 397a can be powered by a battery, or can receive power from the truck 5, for example. Preferably, when the release mechanism 397 includes an electric actuator 397a, the release mechanism 397 can be actuated by either the electric actuator 397a or by an operator manually rotating the release handle 396. In this way, the release mechanism 397 can be actuated even if there were an electrical failure such as a dead battery or faulty wiring, etc.