Abstract: A hard tonneau cover includes a hinging mechanism that relies on a compound hinge to control the position of the front of the cover yet allows the cover to be easily removed from the cargo bed. The compound hinge includes a hinge plate that is slidingly received in a hinge pocket that is attached to the cargo bed. A locking mechanism serves to pop the rear edge of the cover off of the tailgate upon being unlocked so as to allow the rear edge to more easily be grasped and pivoted toward its open position. The hinge pocket, strike loop of the locking mechanism and a telescoping strut are all attached to a common bracket that is attached to the cargo box.

Abstract: A system for mounting a hard tonneau cover to a pickup truck greatly simplifies the installation procedure. The system serves to automatically position the hinges, support struts and latching plates both relative to one another and relative to the truck. Moreover, this installation does not require any holes to be drilled through the truck's sheet metal while loads are distributed so as to prevent distortion of the top rails.