Tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus

Abstract

A tonneau cover is provided that is attached at its most forward end to an adjustable tensioning rail which spans the front end of a pickup truck box. The tensioning rail is adjustably attached at its outside edges to two side rails which are attached to the inside of a pickup box. The adjustable attachment of the tensioning rail to the side rails is accomplished by the use of a tensioning screw and two attachment blocks. As the tensioning screw is moved forwards and backwards by the use of the adjustment knob, the tensioning rail is moved in a corresponding manner. This adjustment is preformed when the tonneau cover is in the open position, and thus, allows a user to obtain the desired amount if tightness when the tonneau cover is subsequently placed in the closed position.

1. An adjustable assembly for a cargo box cover for use on a cargo box having upwardly extending left and right side walls, a front wall and a rear end gate wall, said walls defining the boundaries of the cargo box,  the cargo box cover having a  left and right rail  side rails connected to said left and right side walls, respectively, an elongate tensioning rail having a  left and right end  ends said elongate tensioning rail extending from said left side rail to said right side rail, and further having  a flexible cover fixedly attached along  to said elongate tensioning rail, said adjustable assembly comprising:
 left and right adjustable threaded screw connection mechanisms, including: 
 arespective left and right block means connectedsecured portions secured to said left and right railside rails, respectively;  
 arespective left and right attachment block meansadjustable portions connected to said left and right end of said tensioning rail respectively; and 
 an adjustable connection means for connecting said tensioning rail torespective adjustable screws interconnecting the respective adjustable portions to the respective secured portions; and  
   a graduated measuring scale on the left and right side rail so as to provide a measurement guide for accurate adjustment of the respective left and right sides of the tensioning rail with respect to  said left and right side rail.  
 
     
     
       2. An  The adjustable assembly as in  of  claim 1  wherein each of said left and right block means connected to said left and right rail comprises a  secured portions has front and rear block section  sections connected to a base block section so as to define a space between said front and rear block section, said front and rear block sections further defining a hole in an aligned orientation so as to pass through said front and rear block section  sections and across said  the space between said  the front and rear block sections. 
     
     
       3. An  The adjustable assembly as in  of  claim 2  wherein each of said left and right attachment block means comprises  adjustable portions include an attachment block section having an elongate treaded  threaded tension screw fixedly attached to said attachment block section and extending through said front and rear block sections spanning said  the space between said  the front and rear block section  sections. 
     
     
       4. An  The adjustable assembly as in  of  claim 3  further comprising a screw adjustment knob between said front and rear block section defining an inner threaded hole for receiving said threaded tension screw. 
     
     
       5. An adjustable assembly as in  claim 4  further comprising a graduated measuring scale on said left and right rail so as to accurately adjust said left and right side of said tensioning rail in respect to said left and right rail. 
     
     
       6. An  The adjustable assembly as in  of claim  5    4  wherein said hole defined by said front and rear block sections is of a larger diameter than said threaded tension screw. 
     
     
       7. An  The adjustable assembly as in  of  claim 1  wherein said left and right block means is  secured portions are fixedly connected to said left and right end of said tensioning rail  side rails and said left and right attachment block means is fixedly connected to  adjustable portions are engaged with said left and right ends of said tensioning rail. 
     
     
       8. An adjustable tonneau cover for a cargo box that comprises  having upwardly extending left and right side walls, a front wall, and a rear end gate wall said walls defining the  that collectively define boundaries of the cargo box, the adjustable tonneau cover assembly  comprising:
 a flexible cover; 
 a  left and right rail connectedside rails connectable to said left and right side walls, respectively;  
 an elongate tensioning rail having a  left and right end  ends, said tensioning rail extending from said left side rail to said right side rail, the flexible cover being secured to the elongate tensioning rail; and  
 a  left and right adjustable threaded screw adjustment mechanisms, including: 
 block meansleft and right securing blocks connected to said left and right railside rails, respectively;  
 a  left and right attachment block means connected toadjustable engaging blocks engaged with said left and right endends of said tensioning rail, respectively; and  
 anleft and right adjustable connection means formechanisms connecting the respective securing blocks to the respective adjustable engaging blocks; and 
 a graduated measuring scale on said left and right rail so as to provide a measurement guide for accurate adjustment of said left and right ends of said tensioning rail with respect to saidthe left and right side rails, respectively.  
 
     
     
       9. An  The adjustable tonneau cover for a cargo box as in  of  claim 8  wherein each of said  the left and right block means connected to said left and right rail comprises a  securing blocks has front and rear block section  sections connected to a base block section so as to define a space between said  the front and rear block section, said  sections, the front and rear block sections further defining a hole  openings in an aligned orientation so as to pass through said front and rear block section across said space between  both of said front and rear block sections. 
     
     
       10. An  The adjustable tonneau cover for a cargo box as in  of  claim 9  wherein each of said left and right attachment block means comprises  adjustable engaging block includes an attachment block section having an elongate treaded  threaded tension screw fixedly attached to said attachment block section  and extending through said front and rear block sections spanning said  the space between said  the front and rear block sections. 
     
     
       11. An  The adjustable tonneau cover for a cargo box as in  of  claim 10  further comprising a screw adjustment knob between said front and rear block section  sections defining an inner threaded hole  opening for receiving said threaded tension screw. 
     
     
       12. An adjustable cover for a cargo box as in  claim 11  further comprising a graduated measuring scale on said left and right rail so as to accurately adjust said left and right side of said tensioning rail in respect to said left and right rail. 
     
     
       13. An  The adjustable tonneau cover for a cargo box as in  of claim  12    11  wherein said hole  openings defined by said front and rear block sections is  are of a larger diameter than said threaded tension screw. 
     
     
       14. An  The adjustable tonneau cover for a cargo box as in  of  claim 8  wherein said left and right block means is  securing blocks are fixedly connected to said left and right end of said tensioning rail  side rails, respectively, and said left and right attachment block means is  blocks are fixedly connected to said left and right  the respective ends of the tensioning rail. 
     
     
       15. An adjustable assembly for a tonneau cover used to cover a pickup truck cargo box, the cargo box having a left and right side upwardly extending walls that define an interior compartment of the cargo box, the adjustable assembly comprising:
   left and right side rails connected to the left and right side walls, respectively;        an elongate tensioning rail having a tensioning rail attachment chamber and left and right ends that extend between the left side rail and the right side rail, the tensioning rail being operatively configured to attach to the tonneau cover; and        left and right adjustable threaded screw adjustment mechanisms, each of the respective adjustable threaded screw adjustment mechanisms having:        a side rail securing portion, operatively connected to respective side rails, with a threaded screw member positioned and arranged such that a force can be placed upon the tensioning rail by each of the threaded screw members as the screw member is adjustably manipulated to force the tensioning rail away from the respective side rail securing portion; and        a tensioning rail engagement member engaged with the tensioning rail within the tensioning rail attachment chamber.     
     
     
       16. The adjustable assembly of  claim 15  wherein the tensioning rail engagement member extends below the side rail such that the tensioning rail is restrained from being lifted away from the respective side rail when the respective engagement member is engaged with the respective side rail. 
     
     
       17. The adjustable assembly of  claim 15  wherein each threaded screw member is engaged in coaxially aligned openings in each of the respective side rail securing portion. 
     
     
       18. An adjustable assembly for a tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus used to cover a pickup truck cargo box having upwardly extending left and right side walls that at least partially define an interior compartment of the cargo box, the tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus having left and right side rails operatively configured to connect to the left and right side walls, respectively, and an elongate tensioning rail having left and right ends that extend between the left side rail and the right side rail, the adjustable assembly comprising:
   left and right tensioning rail attachment blocks operatively configured to slidingly secure the left and right ends of the elongate tensioning rail with the respective left and right side rails; and        left and right tensioning screws positioned and arranged such that a force can be placed on the elongate tensioning rail by each of the tensioning screws as each tensioning screw is adjustably manipulated to move the elongate tensioning rail with respect to left and right side rails.     
     
     
       19. The adjustable assembly of  claim 18  further comprising left and right side rail adjustment blocks operatively configured to attach to the left and right side rails, respectively, each tensioning screw having a first end portion attached to one of the adjustment blocks and a second end attached to one of the tensioning rail attachment blocks. 
     
     
       20. An adjustable assembly for a tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus used to cover a pickup truck cargo box having upwardly extending left and right side walls that at least partially define an interior compartment of the cargo box, the tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus having left and right side rails operatively configured to connect to the left and right side walls, respectively, and an elongate tensioning rail having left and right ends that extend between the left side rail and the right side rail, the adjustable assembly comprising:
   left and right side rail adjustment blocks operatively configured to attach to the left and right side rails, respectively;        left and right tensioning rail attachment blocks operatively configured to attach to the left and right ends of the elongate tensioning rail, respectively; and        left and right tensioning screws, each tensioning screw having a first end portion attached to one of the adjustment blocks and a second end attached to one of the tensioning rail attachment blocks such that such that a force can be placed on the elongate tensioning rail by each of the tensioning screws as each tensioning screw is adjustably manipulated to move the elongate tensioning rail with respect to left and right side rails.     
     
     
       21. A tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus used to cover a pickup truck cargo box having upwardly extending left and right side walls that at least partially define an interior compartment of the cargo box, the tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus comprising;
   left and right side rails operatively configured to connect to the left and right side walls, respectively;        an elongate tensioning rail having left and right ends that extend between the left side rail and the right side rail; and        an adjustable assembly comprising:      left and right side rail adjustment blocks attached to the left and right side rails, respectively;        left and right tensioning rail attachment blocks attached to the left and right ends of the elongate tensioning rail, respectively; and        left and right tensioning screws, each tensioning screw having a first end portion attached to one of the adjustment blocks and a second end attached to one of the tensioning rail attachment blocks such that such that a force can be placed on the elongate tensioning rail by each of the tensioning screws as each tensioning screw is adjustably manipulated to move the elongate tensioning rail with respect to left and right side rails.       
     
     
       22. A method of maintaining an appropriate tension on a tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus secured to a cargo box of a pickup truck, the truck cargo box having upwardly extending left and right side walls that at least partially define an interior compartment of the cargo box, the method comprising steps of:
   providing a tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus having left and right side rails operatively configured to connect to the left and right side walls, respectively, and an elongate tensioning rail having left and right ends that extend between the left side rail and the right side rail;        providing an adjustable assembly having left and right tensioning screws positioned and arranged with corresponding left and right tensioning rail attachment blocks operatively configured to slidingly secure the left and right ends of the elongate tensioning rail with the respective left and right side rails; and        adjustably manipulating each tensioning screw to move the elongate tensioning rail with respect to left and right side rails such that a force can be placed on the elongate tensioning rail by each of the tensioning screws.     
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  further comprising steps of:
   attaching a tonneau cover to the left and right side rails;        attaching left and right side rail adjustment blocks to the left and right side rails, respectively;        attaching a first end portion of each tensioning screw to one of the adjustment blocks and attaching a second end of the tensioning screw to one of the tensioning rail attachment blocks; and        manipulating each tensioning screw to drive the tensioning rail away from the respective attachment blocks to place greater tension on the tonneau cover.     
     
     
       24. A method of maintaining an appropriate tension on a tonneau cover secured to a cargo box of a pickup truck, the truck cargo box having upwardly extending left and right side walls that at least partially define an interior compartment of the cargo box, the method comprising steps of:
   connecting a tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus having left and right side rails to the left and right side walls, respectively, the tonneau cover tension adjuster apparatus comprising an elongate tensioning rail having left and right ends that extend between the left side rail and the right side rail;        attaching a tonneau cover to the left and right side rails;        attaching left and right side rail adjustment blocks to the left and right side rails, respectively;        attaching left and right tensioning rail attachment blocks to the left and right ends of the elongate tensioning rail, respectively; and        attaching left and right tensioning screws to the left and right side rail adjustment blocks and left and right tensioning rail attachment blocks;        attaching a first end portion of first tensioning screw to the first adjustment block and attaching a second end of the first tensioning screw to the first tensioning rail attachment block;        attaching a first end portion of second tensioning screw to the second adjustment block and attaching a second end of the second tensioning screw to the second tensioning rail attachment block; and        adjustably manipulating each tensioning screw to move the elongate tensioning rail with respect to left and right side rails such that a force can be placed on the elongate tensioning rail by each of the tensioning screws.     
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24  wherein the adjustably manipulating step comprises manipulating each tensioning screw to drive the tensioning rail away from the respective attachment blocks to place greater tension on the tonneau cover. 
     
     
       26. A method of maintaining an appropriate tension on a tonneau cover secured to a cargo box of a pickup truck, the pickup truck cargo box having a plurality of upwardly extending walls, said plurality of upwardly extending walls including left and right side walls, a front wall and a rear end gate wall, said plurality of upwardly extending walls at least partially defining an interior compartment of the cargo box; the method comprising:
   attaching a tonneau cover and a tonneau cover attachment frame having a tonneau cover adjustment mechanism to the pickup truck, the tonneau cover attachment frame including left and right side rails which are connected to said left and right side walls, respectively; an elongate tensioning rail having left and right ends, said tensioning rail extending from the left side rail to the right side rail, the tonneau cover attached to the tensioning rail; left and right side rail attachment bracket mechanisms connected to said left and right side rails, respectively; the elongate tensioning rail including left and right tensioning rail attachment members engaged with said tensioning rail and positioned and arranged to sliding secure the elongate tensioning rail to the respective side rails; wherein each of said left and right side rail attachment bracket mechanisms include a threaded screw member, and each of the threaded screw members are positioned and arranged such that a force can be placed on the elongate tensioning rail by each of the threaded screw members as each said screw member is adjustably manipulated to drive the tensioning rail away from the respective attachment bracket mechanism, thereby placing greater tension on the tonneau cover; and        manipulating the respective attachment bracket mechanisms so as to drive the tensioning rail away from the respective attachment bracket mechanism, thereby placing greater tension on the tonneau cover following the step of attaching, at such time as it is desireable to place a greater tension on the tonneau cover.