Pick-up truck box cover

Abstract

A cover assembly for a pick-up truck cargo box includes first and second rails attachable at the sides of the box. A cover has a first resilient hinge strip connecting a first panel to a second panel and allowing the first panel to pivot relative to the second panel. A third panel is attached to the second panel by a second resilient hinge strip, which allows the second panel to pivot relative to the third panel. The panels are supported on the rails. Latches on the panels hold the panels onto the rails. The cover may be opened by sequentially releasing the latches and folding the panels over onto each other.

1 . A cover assembly for a pick-up truck cargo box, comprising:
 first and second rails attachable to first and second sides of the cargo box, respectively;   a cover attachable to the first and second rails, with the cover including a first panel pivotally attached to a second panel, and a front panel pivotally attached to the second panel;   first and second compression elements each having a first end pivotally attached to a bottom surface the front panel, and a second end pivotally attached to a fitting at a front end of the first and second rails, respectively, for holding the cover in a folded upright position.   
     
     
         2 . The cover assembly of  claim 1  further comprising first and second mounting plates on a bottom surface of the front panel, and with the first end of each of the first and second compression elements attached to the first and second mounting plates, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The cover assembly of  claim 1  wherein the compression element holds the folded cover in an over center position. 
     
     
         4 . The cover assembly of  claim 1  wherein the compression element comprises an air cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The cover assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a slam latch assembly on a bottom surface of one or more of the panels, with the slam latch assembly including first and second plungers urged outwardly by first and second springs into latching positions wherein the first and second plungers extend at least partially into first and second latch channels in the first and second side rails, respectively, for latching the panel into engagement with the first and second rails; and
 a release mechanism associated with each slam latch assembly for releasing the first and second plungers from the first and second latch channels, respectively. 
 
     
     
         6 . The cover assembly of  claim 1  with the first and second compression elements adapted to hold folded cover in contact with a rear surface of a cab of the pick-up truck. 
     
     
         7 . The cover assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a rubber bumper on a bottom surface of the second panel to provide a soft contact with the cab of the pick-up truck. 
     
     
         8 . The cover assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cab panel pivotally attached to the front panel; 
 first and second extension plates at the front end of the first and second side rails, respectively; and 
 the cab panel attached to the first and second extension plates. 
 
     
     
         9 . A cover assembly for a pick-up truck cargo box, comprising:
 first and second rails attachable to first and second sides of the cargo box, respectively;   a cover attachable to the first and second rails, with the cover including a first panel pivotally attached to a second panel, a third panel pivotally attached to the second panel, and a fourth panel pivotally attached to the third panel;   first and second compression elements each having a first end pivotally attached to a mounting plate on a bottom surface the fourth panel, and a second end pivotally attached to a fitting at a front end of the first and second rails, respectively, for holding the cover in a folded over center position.