Tonneau Cover

Abstract

A pickup truck having a tonneau cover is provided. The tonneau cover includes a first panel section pivotable with respect to the opposing first and second upward-extending side walls. A first latching assembly is attached to the first panel section and is configured to selectively secure and release the first panel section with respect to the first and second side walls of the pickup truck. The first latching assembly includes first and second pinch latch assemblies. The first pinch latch assembly is located adjacent the first upward-extending side wall of the pickup truck and the second pinch latch assembly is located adjacent the second upward-extending side wall of the pickup truck.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tonneau cover for use over a truck bed of a pickup truck, the tonneau cover comprising:
 at least one panel section;   a first latching assembly attached to the at least one panel section;   wherein the first latching assembly includes first and second pinch latch assemblies;   wherein when a force is applied to the first pinch latch assembly it moves to an unlatched condition;   wherein each of the first and second pinch latch assemblies includes:
 a latch handle portion and an inner pinch handle portion; 
 wherein the latch handle portion includes a latch, a latch handle, at least one spring pocket at least a portion of which is located between the latch and the latch handle, at least one guide extending away from the latch; and at least one spring that fits into the at least one spring pocket of the latch handle portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tonneau cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a second panel section pivotally attached to the at least one panel section, a second latching assembly attached to the second panel section, wherein each of the first and second latching assemblies include first and second pinch latch assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The tonneau cover of  claim 1 , wherein the inner pinch handle portion includes a handle and at least one slot configured to receive at least a portion of at least one guide tab of the latch handle portion. 
     
     
         4 . The tonneau cover of  claim 1 , wherein the handle of the latch handle portion is selectively separated from the handle of the inner pinch handle portion, wherein such separation is at least in part defined by interaction between the portion of at least one guide tab of the latch handle portion located in at least one slot of the inner pinch handle portion. 
     
     
         5 . The tonneau cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring located in the at least one spring pocket of latch handle portion biases the latch of the latch handle portion toward a latched condition such that when a force is applied to draw the handle of the latch handle portion and a handle of the inner pinch handle portion toward each other, the at least one spring creates a resistance force against the force but is overcome by the force such that movement of the handle of the latch handle portion and the handle of the inner pinch handle portion toward each other moves the latch of the latch handle portion. 
     
     
         6 . The tonneau cover of  claim 5 , further comprising a longitudinally extending connector attached to the inner pinch handle portion of the first pinch latch assembly and the inner pinch handle portion of the second pinch latch assembly such that when the inner pinch handle portion of the first pinch latch assembly is moved by the force applied to the handle of the latch handle portion and the handle of the inner pinch handle portion toward each other, the inner pinch handle portion of the second pinch latch assembly moves which moves the latch of the latch handle portion of the second pinch latch assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The tonneau cover of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one spring of the latch handle portion of both of the first and second pinch latch assemblies are configured to move the handle of the latch handle portion and the handle of the inner pinch handle portion so that the latch of the latch handle portion of the both of the first and second pinch latch assemblies are moved back to the latched condition when the force applied to the handle of the latch handle portion and the handle of the inner pinch handle portion is ceased. 
     
     
         8 . A tonneau cover for use over a truck bed of a pickup truck, the tonneau cover comprising:
 at least one panel section;   at least one pinch latch assembly as part of the at least one panel section;   wherein the at least one pinch latch assembly includes a latch pinch handle portion and an inner pinch handle portion; and   a handle that extends from the inner pinch handle portion.   
     
     
         9 . The tonneau cover of  claim 8 , wherein the latch handle portion includes a latch handle, at least one spring pocket, a spacer, a latch, and at least one guide tab. 
     
     
         10 . The tonneau cover of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one spring fits into the at least one spring pocket of the latch handle portion. 
     
     
         11 . The tonneau cover of  claim 8 , wherein the inner pinch handle includes a cavity that is configured to hold a structure selected from the group consisting of at least one of a light and a cover. 
     
     
         12 . The tonneau cover of  claim 9 , further comprising a connector panel attachment tab that is located opposite the latch and configured to attach the connector panel to an opposing pinch latch assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The tonneau cover of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one guide tab fits in a slot in the inner pinch handle to guide movement of the inner pinch handle which pulls on the connector panel to cause the opposing pinch latch assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The tonneau cover of  claim 8 , further comprising a latch guide is attached to a frame on the panel section and receives a portion of the at least one latch springs. 
     
     
         15 . The tonneau cover of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one spring biases against at least one wall of the latch guide as well as at least one wall of the latch handle portion to create a resistance force against a motion of travel that pulls the latch to an unlatching position. 
     
     
         16 . The tonneau cover of  claim 8 , further comprising a second panel section, at least one pinch latch assembly as part of the second panel section, wherein the at least one pinch latch assembly includes a latch pinch handle portion and an inner pinch handle portion, and a handle that extends from the inner pinch handle portion. 
     
     
         17 . A tonneau cover for use over a truck bed of a pickup truck, the tonneau cover comprises:
 at least one panel section;   wherein the at least one panel section includes at least one latch assembly;   wherein at least a portion of the at least one latch assembly is fitted within the at least one panel.   
     
     
         18 . The tonneau cover of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a portion of the at least one latch assembly is located between a top surface and a bottom surface of the at least one panel section. 
     
     
         19 . The tonneau cover of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one latch assembly further comprises a latch pinch handle portion and an inner pinch handle portion, wherein a handle extends from the inner pinch handle portion. 
     
     
         20 . The tonneau cover of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a portion of the at least one latch assembly is located in a frame member of the at least one panel section.